It is generally recognized that respiratory conditions currently account for about third of emergency admissions so the range of roles for nurses may encompass triage and front line assessment, care on respiratory or general wards, intensive or high- dependency care, and a range of specialist roles for immediate, early discharge and continuing care.
There are many ways in which a respiratory nursing post can be developed. These include undertaking relevant training courses and study days backed up by practical experience working with patients with respiratory problems.