Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Opinion
  • Published:

Advanced urology nursing practice

Subjects

Abstract

Urology nursing has developed as a specialty over the past few decades in response to several factors, workload demands being a prime reason. Nurses are taking on additional roles and activities including procedures such as cystoscopy and prostate biopsy, and running nurse-led clinics for a variety of urological conditions. Audits of advanced urological nursing practice have shown this care to be of a high standard and investigative procedures performed by these nurses match the diagnostic quality of existing services. Professional urological nursing organizations support the professional needs of these nurses, but the provision of education and training for advanced practice activities remains an unaddressed need. A range of confusing advanced urology nursing titles exists, and uncertainty regarding the roles and scope of practice for these nurses remains a concern. Acceptance and support from medical colleagues is required for the success of advanced urological nursing practice, but opinions on these roles remain divided.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Quallich, S. A. A survey evaluating the current role of the nurse practitioner in urology. Urol. Nurs. 31, 330–336 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gaines, K. K. & Quallich, S. Toward advances in practice. Urol. Nurs. 31, 325–326 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Schultz, H. Practical and legal implications of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in cystoscopy. Urol. Nurs. 31, 355–358 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Turner, B. & Aslet, P. Nurse practitioner-led prostate biopsy in the United Kingdom. Urol. Nurs. 31, 351–353 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Henderson, A. et al. Outcome analysis and patient satisfaction following octant transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a prospective study comparing consultant urologist, specialist registrar and nurse practitioner in urology. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 7, 122–125 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Osborne, S. Nurse-led flexible cystoscopy: the UK experience informs a New Zealand nurse specialist's training. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 1, 58–63 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. The Global Alliance of Urology Nurses [online], (2014).

  8. Albaugh, J. A. Urology nursing practice educational preparation, titles, training, and job responsibilities around the globe. Urol. Nurs. 32, 79–85 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. White, T., Crowe, H. & Papps, E. Defining urology nursing practice roles in Australia and New Zealand. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 3, 69–77 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Thompson, K. et al. A baseline description of the research, clinical practice and development needs of urology nurses in the United Kingdom. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 1, 36–46 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kleier, J. A. Procedure competencies and job functions of the urologic advanced practice nurse. Urol. Nurs. 29, 112–117 (2009).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gardner, G., Chang, A. & Duffield, C. Making nursing work: breaking through the role confusion of advanced nursing practice. J. Adv. Nurs. 57, 382–391 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ream, E. et al. Working patterns and perceived contribution of prostate cancer clinical nurse specialists: a mixed method investigation. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 46, 1345–1354 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lewis, R. et al. Nurse-led vs. conventional physician-led follow-up for patients with cancer: systematic review. J. Adv. Nurs. 65, 706–723 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Masood, J., Forristal, H., Cornes, R., Vandal, M. T. & Gujral, S. S. An audit of patient satisfaction with uro-oncolgy nurse specialists—a questionnaire study. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 1, 81–86 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Anderson, B. The benefits to nurse-led telephone follow-up for prostate cancer. Br. J. Nurs. 19, 1085–1090 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Koo, V., McMahon, J., O'Brien, A., Young, M. & Marley, J. Outcome audit of nurse-led lower urinary tract symptoms clinic: lessons and challenges for practice. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 2, 72–77 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. McGaughan, E., Parahoo, K., Thompson, K. & Reid, S. Patients' satisfaction with a community-based, nurse-led benign prostatic hyperplasia assessment clinic. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 2, 14–20 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Boxhall, S. & Dougherty, M. An evaluation of a specialist nursing role for men with prostate cancer. Urol. Nurs. 23, 148–152 (2003).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Greenwood, J. Nurse-led clinics for assessing men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Prof. Nurse 19, 228–232 (2003).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bagnall, P. A survey of patients with prostate cancer attitudes concerning being cared for closer to home. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 3, 115–123 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Gidlow, A. B. & Roodhouse, A. The urology nurse practitioner. Nurs. Standard 12, 49–53 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sapre, N. et al. Nurse-led flexible cystoscopy in Australia: initial experience and early results. BJU Int. 110 (Suppl. 4), 46–50 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gidlow, A. B., Laniado, M. E. & Ellis, B. W. The nurse cystoscopist: a feasible option? BJU Int. 85, 651–654 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Forsyth, I., Shaikh, S. & Gunn, I. The nurse cystoscopist. Extending the role. Br. J. Perioper. Nurs. 15, 342–345 (2005).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Radhakrishnan, S., Dorkin, T. J., Johnson, P., Menezes, P. & Greene, D. Nurse-led flexible cystoscopy: experience from one UK centre. BJU Int. 98, 256–258 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Chatterton, K., Bugeja, P., Challacombe, B., Anderson, P. & Costello, A. Nurses' experience establishing a nurse-led bladder cancer surveillance flexible cystoscopy service. Aust. J. Adv. Nurs. 28, 53–59 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tarrant, C., Sinfield, P., Agarwal, S. & Baker, R. Is seeing a specialist nurse associated with positive experiences of care? The role and value of specialist nurses in prostate cancer care. BMC Health Serv. Res. 8, 65 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lamb, B. W., Allchorne, P., Sevdalis, N., Vincent, C. & Green, J. S. A. The role of the urology clinical nurse specialist in the multidisciplinary team meeting. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 5, 59–64 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Robinson, L. et al. Describing the work of nursing: the case of postsurgical nursing interventions for men with prostate cancer. Res. Nurs. Health 22, 321–328 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Richardson, A. Findings from a multi method evaluation of the Prostate Cancer Charity Specialist Nurse Programme. Presented at The Prostate Cancer Charity National Prostate Conference 3rd November (London, 2006).

  32. Ross, T. Prostate cancer telephone helpline: nursing from a different perspective. Br. J. Nurs. 16, 161–165 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sykes, J. Future directions for the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse in Australia. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 5, 139–145 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Saca-Hazboun, H. Advances in prostate cancer treatment. ONS Connect 23, 8–12 (2008).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. James, N. & McPhail, G. The success of a nurse-led, one-stop suspected prostate cancer clinic. Cancer Nurs. Pract. 7, 28–32 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Shah, J. & Baston, E. Standard of prostate biopsies undertaken by nurse practitioners. Cancer Nurs. Pract. 12, 32–35 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Pisipati, S. et al. Nurse-led prostate assessment clinics—are they fit for purpose? Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 2, 42–46 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Dasgupta, P., Drudge-Coates, L., Smith, K. & Booth, C. M. The cost effectiveness of a nurse-led shared-care prostate assessment clinic. Ann. R. Coll. Surg. Engl. 84, 328–330 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Bagnall, P. & Baker, H. Guideline for nurse-led assessment and follow-up of men with stable prostate cancer. Int. J. Urol. Nurs. 3, 134–135 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Hanno, P. M. & Rohner, T. J. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants will help alleviate work force shortage, according to AUA. Urology Times [online], (2010).

  41. Nash, K. Many urologists put brakes on procedures nurse practioners, physician assistants do. Urology Times [online], (2012).

  42. Medew, J. Nurses take on doctors' tasks. The Age [online], (2013).

  43. Hutchison, C. et al. Overview of nurse-led clinics and their scope of practice. Cancer Nurs. Pract. 10, 29–35 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. British Association of Urological Surgeons. Flexible Cystoscopy Guidelines & Assessment [online], (2000).

  45. Sublett, C. M. Adding to the evidence base: urology nursing practice educational preparation, titles, training, and job responsibilities around the globe. Urol. Nurs. 32, 86–87 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Gee, W. F. & Kogan, B. Debate on use of advanced practice nurses and physician assistant in urology centers on procedures. Urology Times [online], (2012).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen Crowe.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crowe, H. Advanced urology nursing practice. Nat Rev Urol 11, 178–182 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2014.16

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2014.16

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing