Drugmaker Chiesi has set up an online community to provide support to respiratory nurses, who have faced unprecedented challenges in the last year as they helped to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
The educational platform – called Together In Respiratory – has been designed as a place for nurses and other healthcare professionals to “come together, share and learn,” according to Chiesi.
The site covers news and reflections from the nursing community, materials for education and skills development, and wellbeing and mental health resources, and will also feature a podcast showcasing interviews and discussions with nurses on the front line of the NHS.
It is hoped that users will be able to improve their knowledge and skills, build confidence and resilience, and find a whole range of hints, tips, and advice to simplify their working day.
“We’re in a time where non-essential face-to-face interaction has been reduced, and so having an online platform where nurses can further their knowledge, interact with peers and hone their skills is crucial,” said Jane Scullion, a respiratory nurse consultant at University Hospital Leicester who is on the editorial board of the site.
A key aim is to encourage “an environment of understanding and empathy towards, and amongst, the nursing community,” she added.
The launch – which has coincided with International Nurses Day – also comes as applications to nursing courses in England have been skyrocketing, with new admissions figures showing a 34% increase to almost 49,000 in the past year.
Last year, the government introduced a new training grant for eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students of at least £5,000 a year, which does not need to be paid back, which could be contributing to the surge.
Chiesi’s UK and Ireland managing director Tom Delahoyde believes the content and interactions being provided by projects like Together in Respiratory are increasingly needed as additions to nursing education, particularly at a time when face-to-face contact has decreased.
“The past year has been challenging, and we are especially empathetic towards nurses in respiratory care who were on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“With more than 669,000 nurses throughout the UK, we need to support and foster their continued growth and wellbeing, now more than ever.”
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