On a day with sunshine, I am looking out of the office window at the first signs of spring. The promise of new life and new hopes abound and plans are well under way for the next ASCN UK conference in Cardiff in September. ASCN UK activities are always moving forwards as we seek to further promote the valuable role of the stoma care nurse and the difference it makes to patients' lives. Nurse education is key to this process and the recent development of the band 6 and 7 competencies will help nurses to reflect on their activities and forge a clearer way ahead in order to future-proof their services.
Work is currently underway to look at competencies for band 2 and 4 staff, which may prove particularly useful in light of the introduction of the nursing associate role, to strengthen and reinforce the nursing profession. This addition to the Nursing and Midwifery Council register offers teams an opportunity to add a valuable resource to clinical arenas. It could also be argued that the a band 4 nursing associate may be viewed as a cheaper alternative to the stoma care workforce in the current economic climate; negotiations are the key to the dilemma—what works for one service may not for another. Let us keep an open mind and explore all options for bolstering the workforce as well as embracing change. Brexit has yet to happen; any potential loss of European nurses, as well as the decrease in individuals entering nurse education since the withdrawal of NHS bursaries, will need to be managed. A proactive stance and a willingness to consider alternative sources for a workforce will be essential in order to maintain and raise standards for stoma care.
Further clinical guidelines are also being finalised with the aim of these being available in September. Practical resources such as these are essential for supporting new clinical nurse specialists by providing guidance and support for nurses on their career development pathway. As nurses retire and less experienced nurses step into their shoes, it is vital that they are supported if we wish to maintain our current excellent standards of care. ASCN UK is committed to ensuring that this happens and welcomes suggestions for further projects to assist with this process.
Change comes in many guises; some changes are seen as progress whereas others may be viewed as change for change's sake. It is a challenge to keep up with technological advances and developments such as Twitter and the impact these have in the healthcare arena; however, multimedia tools and resources can be used to enhance the care we provide to our patients and connect their world with ours more readily. Providing guidance and reassurance about pertinent websites reassures our patients that the information they are accessing is credible and helps to bolster and reinforce the information we as nurses are providing. The dramatic change in patients' expectations of healthcare delivery means that we need to deliver care in a more appropriate format and allow them choices regarding all aspects of care. More than ever, health professionals need to be on top of their game and up to date in order to address these expectations. Let us face the challenge, step into the world of online information resources and learn together as we go.
From a personal perspective, I remain hopeful that, together with industry, specialist stoma care nurses will continue to contribute to national initiatives and use their voices to raise the profile of nurse specialists. I hope they will consider undertaking advanced practice, and become involved in research and further academic study so that as a collective voice we remain powerful and in a position to really contribute to patients' welfare as well as satisfy the needs of commissioners and GPs. As a powerful group, we are in a unique position to influence and support stakeholders by working in collaboration. This years ASCN UK Masterclass in March has this as its theme—we will explore the common connections we have and illustrate examples of our existing partnerships, which are essential from a clinical and economic viewpoint. In the meantime, I was pleased to attend the BJN Awards this year and to present the Stoma Care Nurse of the Year award, which recognises commitment and dedication to a specialism dear to us all. Congratulations Andrew Bird!