N008 IBD Nursing care: The first visit

Background: Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis are chronic disorders whose diagnosis produces an imbalance in patient’s life, since symptoms may relapse, remit and/or worsen over time.The IBD nurse’s role is essential to the provison of expert clinical care and education for the patients and families, so as to facilitate adaptation of this new situation to the activities of daily living. A methodologic approach to this visit is crucial to collect important clinical data and provide recommendations. Aims: To implement a nursing welcome protocol for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease on their first IBD nursing visit, in order to provide the information needed to facilitate compliance with the new situation,to improve the quality of care for patients with de novo diagnosis and encourage trust in healthcare professionals. Methods: Systematic review of scientific publications. Newly diagnosed IBD patients. Length of visit:45 minutes. First IBD nursing visit checklist: 3 steps. 1. To obtain historical information. Marjory Gordon’s functional health patterns. 2. Health Education and team contact: concept of disease/ signs and symptoms/drug therapy, adherence and side effects/vaccination/nutrition and diet/pregnancy/general advice and promotion of healthy lifestyles/guidance in search of information and support groups. 3. Vaccine program,serologies and infection prevention. Results: Future studies are needed to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of this protocol and its effects on knowledge, attitudes, practices and outcomes related to health and disease status. Conclusions: In the current framework of multidisciplinary care of patients with this disease, the nurse is a reference for the patients and families to cope with the new diagnosis and to resolve the events that may occur in the course of the disease. The nursing welcome protocol for IDB patients, could be an efficient and effective method for clinical decision making in providing planned patient care and for organizing nursing knowledge. The first nursing visit of an IBD patient is an opportunity for both the patient and nurse to build a fulfilling and close relationship.