 | | MS. Jacob lecturing at the Urinary infections ESU Workshop |
As an advanced midwife practitioner in Women’s Health in the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, I have been invited to present at national and international conferences. Nevertheless, I was surprised and delighted to receive the invitation in November 2011 to participate in the EAU Congress as a faculty member in the ESU Course on Urinary Infections.
After I confirmed my participation, Prof. Mete Çek contacted me about the course programme. This was the first time that the course was organised by the EAUN. It was also agreed with Prof. Çek and speaker Prof. Florian Wagenlehner that I should speak on ‘Catheter Care in Urological Practice and in General Practice.’
Some of the topics selected for the programme included as follows: urinary tract infections; healthcare associated infections (HAI) in urology (including infections acquired during hospital stay, outpatient procedures, long term healthcare facilities and treatment at home); and urosepsis (as a serious complication of HAI).
I searched the literature for all the up-to-date evidence-based guidelines including the N.I.C.E. guidelines and my own hospital’s urological and infection policies. Most important of all, I consulted the European Association of Urology Nurses evidence-based guidelines for best practice in urological health care. I also prepared clinical cases for discussion and their management strategy.
Hospital visit
I had registered for the EAUN hospital visit to Claude Bernard Hospital, Bichat, located north of Paris. We were met on arrival by the consultant, Prof. Ravery, registrars and senior nursing staff. We were given an introduction to the hospital and in particular to the department of urology, followed by an extensive tour of the urodynamics rooms, outpatients department, day case clinics, urology unit and the pharmacy. The visit lasted nearly three hours and we were very warmly received. Again, my thanks to Hanneke for organising this wonderful visit.
The next day I prepared for the course and uploaded my presentation onsite at the Speaker Service Centre (SSC) and checked out the venue for the course. The staff at the Centre was most helpful and friendly and was available to assist with the presentations. I arrived early for the course and was introduced by EAUN chairperson Kate Fitzpatrick to Profs. Çek and Wagenlehner who both made me feel welcome.
There were approximately 100 delegates who attended the course which took up around 2.5 hours. Many of my colleagues from Ireland came to support me for which I am very grateful. Needless to say, I breathed a huge sigh of relief after my presentation. The following day I attended the EAUN annual general meeting, lectures and poster sessions. In summary, the meeting was most informative and a great chance to network with other urology colleagues. Finally, I would like to thank Kate and the EAUN Committee for their kind invitation and Hanneke for her assistance with the EAUN Guidelines.
Mary Jacob, Advanced Midwife Practitioner
National Maternity Hospital, Women’s Health Gynae
Clinic, Dublin (IE)
Article from European Urology Today, volume 24, No. 2 |
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