Pulmonary Nursing: Essential Care for Lung Diseases

Pulmonary Nursing

Pulmonary nursing is a specialized area of nursing that focuses on caring for patients with lung-related diseases. This field is essential in healthcare, as it provides specialized care for patients with pulmonary disease. A pulmonary nurse, also known as a respiratory nurse, is a healthcare professional who works with patients suffering from conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other respiratory diseases.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Pulmonary nursing plays a significant role in managing chronic conditions, such as COPD. A pulmonary nurse would be responsible for teaching a COPD patient how to use medications correctly, perform breathing exercises to improve lung function, and adopt lifestyle adjustments to manage symptoms. Patients with COPD require effective nursing interventions, which include conducting physical examinations, observing respiratory patterns, promoting adequate nutritional intake, and educating patients on self-management techniques.

Pulmonary Nursing Assessment Techniques

Assessment techniques are crucial in pulmonary nursing care, as they help in understanding a patient's underlying condition. These techniques involve examining the respiratory system, understanding its anatomy and physiology, and correlating this knowledge with the patient's symptoms. Standard pulmonary nursing assessment techniques are basic methods used to evaluate a patient's lung health, while advanced pulmonary nursing assessment techniques are more complex and in-depth methods that provide a comprehensive evaluation of a patient's respiratory system.

Pulmonary Nursing Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for continuous education in respiratory nursing care. In response, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) nursing group has discussed the development of a harmonised core curriculum to recognise respiratory nursing as a speciality with specialized clinical academic training and to have a standardised curriculum. A survey conducted by the International Coalition for Respiratory Nursing (ICRN) found that 97% of respondents confirmed the need for a core respiratory nursing curriculum.

In summary, pulmonary nursing is a critical field that provides specialized care for patients with lung-related diseases. It involves managing chronic conditions, performing comprehensive assessments of the respiratory system, and providing effective nursing interventions. The development of a harmonised core curriculum for respiratory nursing is essential to support the ongoing growth and development of this essential healthcare specialty.