I. Name

The name of this Assembly of the American Thoracic Society is the Assembly on Nursing.

II. Charge

The Assembly is concerned with clinical respiratory nursing care issues, clinical practice, patient education, and research, focusing on problems with a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach. Interdisciplinary collaboration is promoted and practiced in the development of projects and programs for practice, education, and research.

III. Objectives are to:

1. provide a mechanism for synthesis, and dissemination of information on a variety of topics such as: responses to illness (e.g. dyspnea, fatigue, reduced functional state, quality of life), prevention of lung disease, adherence in critical, acute, and chronic settings.
2. promote and provide assistance in the development, conduct and funding of research related to respiratory patient problems; and
3. initiate and participate in the interdisciplinary planning for knowledge development, education, and evaluation and treatments for persons with lung disease.

III. Scope

The scope of the Assembly on Nursing will broadly include the following.

1. Respiratory care practice in the prevention and management of lung disease.
2. Nursing education and training programs related to the management of persons with lung disease.
3. Education and training in the definition and evaluation of respiratory patient outcomes.
4. Basic and clinical research related to the care of patients with respiratory diseases such as: disease prevention and treatment, symptom management, quality of life, functional status (e.g. in pulmonary rehabilitation) in both traditional as well as non- traditional treatments of lung disease.
5. Health care service delivery to individuals with lung disease.
6. Interdisciplinary collaboration in the practice, education, and research of individuals with lung disease.