The changing role of the continence adviser

The role of the continence adviser is evolving and developing within today's health service. Research evidence is available to define the role and its principal functions. Since the inception of the role in the early 1980s, there is still wide variation in interpretation, lack of uniformity and wide variance of service provision across the country. It is time to remove the title of continence adviser as it no longer portrays the role as it has developed. In addition, the taboo nature of the word, incontinence, has to be considered as a potential barrier to progress and development. An ENB course has now been established to ensure that continence advisers can take their rightful place alongside their colleagues in other specialist areas of nursing. As these develop, aspects of the continence adviser's role may be under threat. Continence advisers will therefore have to sell their services in the marketplace and move away from pad-oriented activities.