GP or other health care providers poorly understand their lifelong condition. The treatment landscape is ever changing giving more and more options to patients. There is greater understanding of the need, and ability, to manage patients holistically within IBD care. Certainly, IBD care is very different to when I first nursed patients with IBD in the early 1990s! But still, people with IBD face challenges managing their condition. Symptoms can be debilitating and stigmatising with many patients experiencing fatigue, urgency or extraintestinal manifestations such as joint pain. Disease flares are unpredictable and living with a chronic illness can have significant impact on work, education, relationships, and lifestyle. IBD is often described as a hidden disability and friends, family and colleagues may not fully appreciate the day-to-day impact.
However, it is important to remember that many people live well with IBD – it is easy to forget this when we in GI nursing may be more likely to have contact with patients when they are unwell, seeking healthcare.
IBD clinical nurse specialists have an increasingly vital role in the management of IBD, planning and optimising physical and psychological care, supporting patients to navigate treatment pathways, providing rapid access to treatment and advice during disease flares, leading service provision and development and driving nurse-led research. However, recent research by Professor Lesley Dibley and IBD nursing colleagues have shown immense pressure on IBD CNS which existed pre-pandemic. Careful workforce planning is likely needed to prevent burn out in these times.
As we approach World IBD Day on 19th May, dig through your wardrobe and consider wearing purple in support of those living with IBD and have a look at the great resources which are their to support you and your patients on Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s website.
However, it is important to remember that many people live well with IBD – it is easy to forget this when we in GI nursing may be more likely to have contact with patients when they are unwell, seeking healthcare.
IBD clinical nurse specialists have an increasingly vital role in the management of IBD, planning and optimising physical and psychological care, supporting patients to navigate treatment pathways, providing rapid access to treatment and advice during disease flares, leading service provision and development and driving nurse-led research. However, recent research by Professor Lesley Dibley and IBD nursing colleagues have shown immense pressure on IBD CNS which existed pre-pandemic. Careful workforce planning is likely needed to prevent burn out in these times.
As we approach World IBD Day on 19th May, dig through your wardrobe and consider wearing purple in support of those living with IBD and have a look at the great resources which are their to support you and your patients on Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s website.
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