Our work
How we represent forum members
- Providing an effective communication network for forum members.
- Providing a strong, recognised voice for members working within gastrointestinal nursing.
- Promoting professional educational opportunities that support standards of gastrointestinal patient care.
- Promoting and supporting gastrointestinal nursing audit, research and publication.
- Working closely with other gastrointestinal nursing groups.
Our strategy: listening, learning, leading
Listening
- Communication - with our forum members
- Networking - with other specialist groups, sharing practice and resources
- Professional support and friendships - on social media and regional meetings
Learning
- Supporting education to promote excellence in practice
- Developing and sharing resources - like competencies and clinical guidance
- Coaching and advice on careers in gastrointestinal nursing
Leading
- Representing the forum - nationally raising the profile of gastrointestinal nursing and promoting excellence
- Influencing - policy and practice. We are regularly asked to input on behalf of the RCN on consultations
- Research - we will lead and support all aspects of clinical research within our speciality
Gastrointestinal Forum Annual Reports
Download the PDF
What we are currently working on
- We are planning to have an RCN webinar on Writing for Publication, as we work on our RCN GI workshop.
- We are planning to explore placement opportunities in GI nursing for pre registration student nurses.
- We are collaborating with other networks to understand current provision of bowel cancer support groups for service users and their families/carers.
- We will review our links with sub specialities, how we can support them and represent them in the wider RCN.
Recent activity
- Framework for Professional Practice for Nurses Working in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Adult and Paediatric Care Settings (2024). This framework for professional practice will provide much needed guidance and support for nurses to develop themselves and their teams for the ongoing benefit of their patients.
- GI research project. We conducted a survey to develop a baseline understanding of research activity amongst GI nurses. This project is now complete, See: Whayman, K. 2023. The enablers and barriers for becoming research active. Gastrointestinal Nursing vol 21, no 8.
- Caring for People with Liver Disease including Liver Transplantation: a Competence Framework for Nursing (September 2019)
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia in Adults (May 2019)
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK (2019) IBD standards, London: Crohn’s and Colitis UK
Leading, collaborating, influencing
The RCN and its forums are invited to participate in many cross working and multidisciplinary workstreams. Below are a selection of some of the activities that members of the Gastrointestinal Nursing Forum are involved in on your behalf.
- Association of Stoma Care Nurses UK
- Bowel Cancer UK. National Colorectal Cancer Nurses Network (NCCNN)
- British Liver Nurses Association
- British Society of Gastroenterology
- BSG Nurses Association Committee
- IBD UK. A partnership of organisations, including the RCN, working together for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- The National Nutrition Nurses Group
Consultations
The RCN is the voice of nursing, and is invited to contribute to many consultations. These are some of the recent consultations that the Gastrointestinal Nursing Forum has been involved in.
- NICE guideline NG172 (August 2020). COVID-19 rapid guideline: gastrointestinal and liver conditions treated with drugs affecting the immune response.
Get involved
Find out more about how to get involved in developing NICE and SIGN guidance
Page last updated - 03/05/2024
