We need to support and work with each other to provide care which is of the highest standard, is evidence based and is designed to meet patients needs. Information should be open and accessible and the information sheets will be up to date and free to download from the website to assist the knowledge of ENT nurses across the country. They will be updated as often as deemed necessary.
A number of ENT Nurses, surgeons and audiologists have developed the information sheets on the most common conditions nursed on ENT wards. The sheets will not go into detail about the general nursing care of the patient but the specialist care that the patient with a condition of the ear, nose or throat will require. Each condition that is covered will have a blank section so that each hospital can insert their own clinicians preference regarding the management of a patient and follow up procedure.

The ultimate plan is to have the funding to present the completed information sheets in a presentation folder to every ENT Dept in the country. There will also be a reference list of ENT literature and texts.

The following sheets are being developed and are available for comment. They will be gradually added to the website with the plan to be able to download them free of charge so they can be available on the ward for general review. If you feel any of the sheets require changes then please contact me.

Information sheets will be included on the following:

Ear:

• Caring for hearing aids, how to change tubing.
• Communicating with patients who are hard of hearing or deaf.
  Catherine Kelleher and Liz Moulding
  
• The patient perspective.
  Denny Fransman
  
• Anatomy and Physiology of the ear
  Rosemary Rodgers
  
• Investigations on the ear: tuning fork tests, audiometry and tympanometr .
  Francis Vaz
  
• Perioperative care of the patient undergoing ear surgery
  Kim Wall
  
• Cochlear Implants
  Cay Jackson
  
• Middle ear Implants
  Brenton Shadbolt
  
• Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
  Fiona McGregor
  
  

Emergency:

Very few ear emergencies seen are admitted but these are some of the conditions commonly assessed and treated by the SHO.

Explanation and discharge advice:

1. Otitis Externa
   Linda Mills and Martin Strachan
2. Otitis Media- Acute otitis media and glue ear
   Val Gallagher
3. Vertigo
   Dan Jiang
4. Tinnitus
   David Brown
   
   

Routine:

Explanation, surgical intervention and discharge advice:

• Grommet insertion +/- adenoids,
  Val Gallagher
  
• Myringoplasty
  Martyn Strachan
  
• Ossiculoplasty
  Dan Jiang
  
• Stapedectomy
  Dan Jiang
  
• Mastoid surgery
  Thanos Bibas
  
• Parotidectomy
  Ann Parker
  

Nose:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the nose.
  
• Investigations on the nose: Nasoendoscopy.
  Rahul Kannegoanker
  
• Perioperative care of the patient undergoing nasal surgery.
  Kim Wall
  

Emergency:

• Epistaxis
  
• Fractured nose
  Karen Sumpter
  

Routine:

Explanation, surgical intervention and discharge advice:

• Fess: Nasal polyps, Sinus Sugery
  
• Septoplasty/ septorhinoplasty
  
• Lateral Rhinotomy
  Jacinta Cownon
  

Throat:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the throat
  
• Investigations on the throat: nasendoscopy, indirect/direct laryngopharynscopy
  Angela Griggs
  
• Perioperative care of the patient undergoing throat surgery
  Kim Wall
  

Routine:

Explanation, surgical intervention and discharge advice:

• Tonsillitis- Quinsy- Tonsillectomy
  
• Thyroid Surgery
  Brian Nicholl
• Snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea and UVPP
  Julia Lewis
• Pharyngeal Pouch
  Kevin Webb
• Scope surgery
  Angela Griggs
  
• Laryngectomy
  Anna Serra
  
• Neck Dissection
  Fiona Mainwaring and lyn Farmer
  

Emergency:

• Epiglottitis
  
• Stridor
  
• Foreign bodies i.e.fishbone
  Angela Griggs
• Tracheostomy
  Claudia Russell