The breastcare nurse primarily provides information, education, support and counselling services for women undergoing assessment, but is available to assist women at any stage of the screening process, if required.

All women participating in BreastScreen Aotearoa are entitled to services from the breastcare nurse which:

• comply with legal, professional, ethical and other standards relevant to the profession of nursing
• are delivered in a professional manner consistent with the physical, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs of the individual  
• are delivered according to the ethics of the nursing profession; minimising any potential harm to and optimising the quality of life of that individual.
  

The breastcare nurse works as a member of a multidisciplinary team in partnership with women, their families and whānau, to empower each woman to make informed choices and optimise her health and wellbeing.

The role of the breastcare nurse includes, but is not limited to:

• empathetically providing support to women and their family/whānau
• acting as advocate for the woman and her supporters
• providing education and information with a particular emphasis on facilitating informed decision making for women prior to attending assessment and after a diagnosis of cancer
• promoting awareness of psychosocial issues of concern to well women participating in screening
• referring women (where appropriate) to other support services
• facilitating communication between other health professionals and services (particularly GPs/PCPs) regarding the care of individual women
• nursing support for women and clinicians during all stages of assessment
• ensuring there are appropriate infection control protocols in place
• facilitating appropriate handling and pathways for pathology specimens
• facilitating access to clinical supplies for assessment days
• regular attendance at the breastcare nurses' unidisciplinary group.

Professional Standards

Qualifications

The role of a BreastScreen Aotearoa breastcare nurse is undertaken by a Registered Nurse (RCON or RCPN) with a current practising certificate and a minimum of two years postgraduate work experience as a Registered Nurse and a strong commitment to the provision of a high standard of care.
The registered nurse will have demonstrated an understanding of and a commitment to meeting the NP&QS.
Within the first year of employment, the BreastScreen Aotearoa Nurse must have attended/or be attending a breastcare nurse course accredited by the New Zealand Nursing Council.
Enrolled Nurses currently working in the Programme may continue in their role but they will participate in ongoing education/training as specified and have their practice overseen by a registered nurse.

Continuing professional development

In order to provide a specialist service for women, the breastcare nurse must have access to ongoing professional development.
The breastcare nurse, in consultation with the Manager, must develop both short and long-term strategies relating to personal career development within the Programme.

The breastcare nurse must actively update her nursing knowledge and practice while maintaining current knowledge in breast screening through participation in graduate nursing study, planned educational programmes, and self-directed study.

In addition to this, the breastcare nurse must maintain up to date knowledge and skills by participation in:

• clinical multidisciplinary in-house sessions for case review, 60% or 15 meetings annually, whichever is the greater
• programme study sessions
• nationally recognised education programmes, or
• regional, national or international seminars, conferences or courses, attending three in any five-year period
• regular clinical supervision if available and requested by the breastcare nurse.

Breastcare Nurses Workforce Survey Report

This is the first BSA annual workforce survey for Breastcare Nurses.  This follows the success of the surveys of other professional groups within BSA, such as the MRTs and the radiologists.  This survey acts as a 'snapshot' of breastcare nurses working within BSA and will be a baseline from which trends will emerge over the coming years.