Delivering academic programs to support Nurse Endoscopy

The challenge to meet ever increasing healthcare needs of an ageing and expanding population who experience more chronic illnesses and have increased consumer expectation, technological advances and innovation brings with it great opportunities for change in health care practice. Traditionally in Australia endoscopy procedures have been conducted predominantly by medical practitioners, however, significant problems have been identified with public access to endoscopic services. Increased demand for colonoscopy following the introduction of population based bowel screening programs has seen the number of endoscopies performed in Australia increase by 27% over the past five years and public patient waiting lists continue to grow (Queensland Health, 2014). Nurses are in an excellent position to deliver safe and effective colonoscopy services through advancing their practice, thereby helping to bridge this health care gap and meet population needs. In September 2014, the Queensland University of Technology was contracted by Queensland Health to deliver a Nurse Endoscopy Program with the aim to provide professional development pathways and postgraduate education programs for Registered Nurses. The rigorous program development process, implementation and progress of student performance will be outlined in this presentation. Evaluation and potential future program delivery opportunities for nurses in the field of endoscopy will also be discussed