Principles of Specialty Nursing

The role of the specialist nurse in Europe is still not clearly defined. Despite the fact that there have been formal training programs – e.g. for nurse anaesthetists, operating room nurses, intensive care and mental health nurses – for years now, the practices, status, duration and content of training can vary greatly from country to country. Some other specialist roles, e.g. for Diabetes, Dialysis, Urology and Oncology, have successfully been established in Europe with the help of professional transnational collaborations. 

Moreover, advances in medical technologies and more sophisticated treatment will not only require specialist nurses in order to ensure quality and safety of care, but will also call upon them to assume new roles in their professional field to compensate for physician shortages. Most of the available literature on specialty nursing practice currently comes from the USA, Canada, and Australia, and accordingly reflects evidence-based nursing in these countries. 

Therefore, there is a need to establish European evidence-based practice on the basis of different clinical experiences. This series, which encompasses textbooks for each specialty, shapes evidence-based practice in Europe, while also integrating lessons learned from other continents. Moreover, it contributes to clarifying the status of the specialist nurse as an advanced practice nurse.

Each volume is dedicated to a specialty such as Mental health and Pyschiatry, firstly published, Oncology, Gastroenterology/Endoscopy, Anesthesia, Kidney Care, Critical Care etc. and for most of them, textbooks are supported by ESNO member societies.