Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that over three million people in the UK have the disease, with just under a third actually having a diagnosis (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2010a). It is defined as irreversible air flow obstruction, which is insidious and progressive with little day-to-day variability, predominantly caused by cigarette smoking, but with the recognition of ther contributory factors such as exposure to occupational irritants (NICE, 2010a).
Reducing the burden of COPD relies on early and accurate diagnosis before individuals are on the trajectory of functional decline (Department of Health [DH], 2011). This paper outlines the key steps that general practice nurses (GPNs) should take to make a good diagnosis and so make lifelong improvements for patients living with COPD.
The introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives from April 2016 will strengthen the renewal process with its new requirements.
Alongside the official NMC revalidation pilot projects, organisations are developing their own pilots to get ahead of the curve when it comes to revalidation to ensure that their workforce are fully prepared to meet the necessary requirements.
HeART, an online e-Portfolio based system which has been accredited by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), is being evaluated by participants in NHS England Central Midlands as a tool to help portfolio development.
General practice nurses are using HeART to ensure that they can meet revalidation requirements when the time comes to apply for revalidation.
