The Development & Role of the International Skin care Nursing Group

1. The Development & Role of the International Skin care Nursing Group Steven Ersser Chair ISNG Advisory Board

2. Global challenge of meeting skin care needs • Skin health is important, but neglected worldwide • The burden of dermatological disease is high both in terms of chronic disease and infections & infestations • There is a need to focus on skin barrier vulnerability by, for example, preventing chronic wounds • Skin disease can be a public health issue eg skin cancer, lymphatic filariasis • Skin diseases are complex in nature with major psychological, quality of life & socio-economic as well as physical impacts

3. Promoting Skin health through Nursing: • Care of the skin- is fundamental to nursing • Many countries have inadequate numbers of dermatologists • Nurses are ideally placed to make a significant impact in this field • Nursing service is complementary to that provided by dermatologists and is key to promoting access to skin care /dermatology services

4. Nursing roles worldwide • Resource rich countries: likely to be about expanding specialist roles at all levels of patient need • Resource poor countries: likely to be about promoting hygiene and skin integrity through health education at a non-specialist level

5. ISNG Vision Through optimal use of the nursing resource and in collaboration with other professionals and agencies, the world’s population will have access to adequate facilities and resources for the promotion of healthy skin for all ISNG (2000)

6. Aims of ISNG: I • Contribute towards major public health initiatives where skin management is central • Promote nursing education for nurses on skin health, develop curricula • Facilitate collaboration with nursing networks & other health professionals on skin health • Establish an Advisory Group of expert nurses who provide a resource on skin health • Collect information about the role of nurses in the provision of skin care worldwide

7. Aims of ISNG: II • To exercise the political function of the group through: • Raising awareness of: • skin disease as a public health concern of significant impact on individuals and populations • lack of support and resources for nursing which prevents realisation of the full potential to meet skin care related health needs • Promoting nursing involvement in international dermatology policy making • Supporting research and development on skin care nursing

8. ISNG History • 1998: working group established in Oxford, aims and objectives of the group determined • 1998/9: Data established • 1999: Launch at VIII International Congress of Dermatology, Cairo • 1999: European Skin Care Nursing Network- Amsterdam • 1999: Successful funding bid for -project worker • 2000: ISNG Office set up atUniversity of Southampton • 2002: Invited to plan the first nursing symposium at World Congress of Dermatology • 2003: Affiliated to the International Council of Nurses

9. 265 members from over 30 countries Cover most continents Most are activists/ senior influential nurses Nurses mainly but multi-professional Membership and countries

10. ISNG Advisory Board • Advise on the ISNG development supporting Chair • 9 members covering 5 continents • All leaders in dermatology nursing include a number ex Presidents/ Chairs of national dermatology nursing groups • Providing leadership in their regions

11. Key achievements I: 1999-2006 • Raising the profile and awareness of dermatology nursing internationally • Educational projects: • Contributed towards the WHO Global Alliance for Morbidity Control of Lymphatic Filariasis health promotion on skin care (2000-2004) • Establishing the Principles of Skin Care Project (2006/7) • Instigated the development of ESCNN: European Skin Care Nursing Network

12. ISNG fieldwork in Tanzania

13. ISNG fieldwork in Tanzania

14. Key achievements II: 1999-2006 • Supported development of national groups and regional activity: eg: Europe (Switzerland, Italy), South Africa, India • Advice on international issues to BDNG Committee 2000-4 • Led the first nursing symposia at the World Congress of Dermatology in 2002 (Paris) • Key conferences: eg: Tanzania, Malta, South Africa, India, France • Regular newsletters to members • Established website www.isng.org

15. Australia: ADNA integrated meeting Perth 2005

16. Malta: first ISNG joint skin & wound care conference

17. South African first meeting: 2006

18. India: Hyderabad -nursing symposium for dermatologists 2006

19. International Council of Nurses (official affiliate member) International Foundation of Dermatology International League of Dermatological Societies National dermatology nursing groups: egs BDNG, ADNA (Australia), NDNA (Netherlands), Dermatology Nurses Association (USA) Key relationships with other groups

20. International Council of Nurses: vision shared with ISNG We are in the vanguard of health care progress, shaping health policy around the world through our expertise, the strength of our numbers, the alignment of our efforts and our collaboration with the public and other health care professionals

21. Who will advise patients about matters dermatological in the new millennium? Dermatologists have been accused of thinking that they are the only people who know about skin diseases and that they are the only people sufficiently qualified to treat them. How true is this, and is it likely that dermatologists are going to be the major sources of advice on dermatological matters in the new millennium? Prof.Robin Marks (2000) in Archives of Dermatology University of Melbourne President, International League of Dermatological Societies