Introduction: COPD is the third leading cause of death in the world. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, in 2019, ranked fourth among the most deadly diseases in Turkey (Alpayd?n,Ö.A. et al.,Optimus 2021;4-5). 

Aim: The aim of this study is to provide patient education to COPD patients in Turkey to empower them with self-care skills, and to highlight the importance of respiratory disease nurses within a multidisciplinary team for respiratory diseases worldwide.

Method: Like other chronic diseases, the importance of disease control and management programs is increasing in COPD. In 2005,the Turkish Thoracic Society, which became a member of GARD, created the 'Turkey Chronic Airway Diseases Prevention and Control Program' covering the years 2009-2013 , and activities were carried out to cover the years 2014-2017. In 2017, the activities for the years 2018-2023 were updated.

Result: Turkish nurses who volunteered to join ICRN on behalf of the Turkish Thoracic Society support the need for high-level knowledge and skills to recognize and provide effective and quality care and education requirements in respiratory nursing.  Turkish Thoracic Society Nursing Task Force continues its educational activities through courses and webinars and contributes to graduate and thesis studies and organizes patient education programs that serve the purpose of maintaining and improving lung health.

Conclusion: Like worldwide, in Turkey, respiratory nurses who play a key role in the management of chronic diseases, including COPD, need to be recognized as critical healthcare providers with their own areas of expertise and standardized levels of education.