Establishing postgraduate education in urology for nurses and the non-medical workforce using a partnership model

Throughout my career I have been passionate about the need for education and support for nurses to develop their skills and knowledge in a supportive environment. In the 30 years I've worked in urology there has been a move to develop nurses' roles by extending their skills, knowledge and practice, allowing them to perform more interventional investigations and procedures previously seen as the remit of medical staff.

In 2000, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN) published guidelines for the implementation of nurse-run flexible cystoscopy services, with these being updated in 2017 to reflect the expansion in the types and complexities of procedures that nurses were performing (Ellis, 2000). Despite this, there have been only limited accredited postgraduate courses available for nurses and the non-medical workforce within urology.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (NHS England, 2023) highlighted the need for staff with the right skills and competencies to deliver services that provide the best possible care to patients and meet the increasing demand. The urology education programme that I have led is focused on meeting these aims. The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code (2018) states that all nurses should work safely within the limits of their competence, and undertaking master's level education allows the opportunity to develop safe, evidence-based practice.