The RCN Crohn's and Colitis Special Interest Group

The RCN Crohn's and Colitis Special Interest Group is set up to offer nurses with an interest in inflammatory bowel disease a dedicated forum. The Special Interest Group consists of a regional network of IBD nurses with an elected committee, The RCN Crohn's and Colitis Special Interest Group National Committee, representing the regions on a national level.

Mission statement

Initiated in September 2005 the RCN Crohn's and Colitis Special Interest Group committee convened to provide a national forum for nurses with a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This forum will provide support to relevant nurses through regional groups, disseminate information on role development and best practice and give IBD nurses a formal, recognised national voice.

Aims

The primary aim of our group is to improve and maintain the standards of care available to individuals in the United Kingdom with IBD.

This will be achieved by:

Development of a definition of the IBD nursing role
Review and development of national guidance on IBD issues and the sharing of best practice and relevant development within the speciality
Developing a communication network to disseminate the above issues to IBD nurses nationally
Establishing formal links to other agencies relevant to IBD and IBD nursing
Creating a recognised and strong national voice for IBD nurses
Participating in the development of educational support for IBD nurses
Providing a forum for national networking for IBD nurses and supporting active or developing regional groups.

Objectives

To clearly define and publish an agreed definition of the IBD nurses role
To create a website and database to facilitate dissemination of our work
To establish a regular national IBD nurse symposium
To generate income under the supervision of RCN to facilitate national and regional working
To identify members of the committee to link formally to the RCN Gastro & Stoma Care Committee, the BSG, NACC, educational institutes currently running postgraduate courses in IBD nursing and interested pharmaceutical companies.