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The Evolution of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nursing: From Foundational Support to Advanced Practice and Future Perspectives

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) poses a growing global health challenge due to its chronic, unpredictable nature and its profound impact on patients' quality of life. Within this evolving care paradigm, the role of nursing has become increasingly central. This narrative review aims to trace the historical development of IBD nursing, outline its present ‘state of the art’ practice, and critically explore its future perspectives within a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The evolution of IBD nursing reflects a remarkable transition from predominantly supportive roles towards specialised and increasingly autonomous practice. This transformation has been driven by the rising prevalence and complexity of IBD, the introduction of advanced therapies, and a growing emphasis on holistic, patient‐centred, and personalised models of care delivery. Contemporary IBD nursing encompasses a broad range of responsibilities and competencies—advanced patient education, comprehensive symptom management, specialised therapeutic support, and psychosocial care—all of which integrated into a multidisciplinary management. Despite persistent challenges related to workload, variability in training, and resource allocation, significant opportunities are emerging: the strategic integration of digital health technologies and artificial intelligence into care pathways, the implementation of personalised medicine approaches, and the rising need for nurse‐led clinical research and patient advocacy. IBD nurses now fulfil indispensable roles in optimising patient outcomes and ensuring the delivery of high‐quality, sustainable IBD care, and their contributions are set to continue expanding, underscoring the necessity for continued professional development, standardisation of practice, and enhanced recognition to meet the evolving needs of patients with IBD and healthcare systems.

Source: JCC Plus

DOI: 10.1002/jcc5.70048

Authors: Simona Radice, Cathy Walsh, Maria De Jong, Goedele Dewitte, Pearl Avery, Giuseppe Privitera