A survey of 470 COPD and asthma nurses conducted by Education for Health, a UK respiratory education facility, found that one fifth of asthma nurses and one half of COPD nurses performing advanced care do not have accredited training, even though two thirds of asthma nurses have an advanced role in the care of their patients. The figures support the conclusion that there are not enough nurses trained in respiratory conditions.
The same survey also demonstrated that nurses are not given sufficient supervision. Forty one percent of asthma nurses and 45% of COPD nurses surveyed reported that primary care physicians are not available for consultation or referrals when nurses are seeing patients.
