Meeting patients' skin care needs: harnessing nursing expertise at an international level

Skin disease is highly prevalent, particularly in the developing world. This can result in skin failure which in turn may have a major social and economic impact on individuals and communities (Finlay & Ryan 1996). The significant lack of dermatologists worldwide, most of whom are based in hospitals, means that expertise in skin care cannot always be delivered to those who need it. This paper advances the argument that a care delivery model is needed which provides skin care focused at a primary care level throughout the nursing service, drawing on specialists who are often based in the secondary health care facilities. This can only be achieved through adopting a strategic approach which identifies the training needs of such professionals, harnesses the appropriate expertise, shares good practice, and operates in close conjunction with dermatologists. This paper outlines how this vision can be put into operation, by outlining the strategic international development work being undertaken by nurses and the efforts to promote inter-professional collaboration.