Forum focus
Published: 03 November 2010
What can the RCN Continence Care Forum offer you?
One in four women and one in 10 men will experience a continence problem at some point in their lives. The RCN Continence Care Forum is a network of nursing staff who feel passionate about improving the quality and dignity of care these people receive. Thousands of RCN members are already signed up. Could you be next?
Forum member and continence nurse specialist Steve Miles explains why you should consider joining.
What is the Continence Care Forum?
The forum is a way for RCN members with an interest in continence care to connect and share best practice. It has more than 3,000 members who are united by a drive to raise standards and spread the word about the importance of good continence care.
What does the forum do?
The forum has a steering committee appointed to represent members and work alongside RCN staff to look at areas of continence care that could be improved. Work the forum is involved in includes commissioning research, hosting conferences, producing guidelines and influencing politicians.
We also produce an electronic newsletter three times a year and have an online community where you can get the latest news about continence care as well as seek support from other forum members on the RCN Discussion Zone.
Our annual conference and exhibition was held earlier this month in York and gave forum members a chance to get updates on new initiatives related to continence care. There was an opportunity to see advancements in continence products and we even held a day catered especially to the educational needs of HCAs and APs.
Why should HCAs and APs join the forum?
The fact is, no matter what your current role, you’ll be expected to treat a patient experiencing continence problems at some point in your career. How you deal with that situation is important because people all too quickly forget how embarrassing and sensitive the issue can be.
There is a saying “wee and poo is what nursing staff do” and that just sums up how flippantly continence care can be considered. The truth is you can make a difference every single time you assist a patient with a continence issue. If you treat them with dignity and take time to overcome their nervousness, they will remember you as providing a positive caring experience.
HCAs and APs are an increasingly important part of the health care team and it’s important you’re engaged with us so we can get continence care right. So much can be gained by being part of the forum. We will provide advice and support about best practice and be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
What can the forum gain by having HCAs and APs on board?
The nursing profession is constantly changing and more and more HCAs and APs are being expected to perform the more complex elements of continence care. We’re currently reviewing our catheter care guidelines and completely redoing the section on delegation for catheterisation. We need HCAs and APs to be on board with this to help us know what the issues are and how to overcome them. As a nursing family we want to promote the development of all our members.