Practice Roles (practice + role)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Lecturer practitioners in six professions: combining cultures

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5 2004
Pat Fairbrother BA
Background., Whilst research has been undertaken in relation to the lecturer practitioner role in nursing, there have been no cross-professional studies. There is an explicit political agenda in the United Kingdom on interprofessional education and enhancing the status of those who provide practice-based teaching. Aim., This paper reports a study to investigate the commonalities and differences between lecturer practitioners across professions and to generate hypotheses about the role, which follows different models of practice in the different professions. Methods., An exploratory research design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of lecturer practitioners from six professions (architecture, clinical psychology, law, medicine, nursing and social work). A grounded theory approach was used. Findings., All lecturer practitioners perceived a clear dichotomy between their professional practice role and their university role. All used similar strategies to adapt to and deal with combining two very differently perceived cultures. There were striking similarities in response to the consequences of serving ,two masters' in the areas of time management and role identity/definition. Conclusions., The role not only bridges theory and practice, but has to operate within very different organizational cultures. Further research is needed to test the generalizability of the findings. Relevance to clinical practice., This investigation aims to inform higher education and health service policy on lecturer practitioners, and also provide support for those undertaking this challenging role. The study poses challenging questions for policymakers in the current climate of interprofessional learning, which need to be addressed if future initiatives in this area are to be successful. [source]


Innovations in United States genetics nursing: Practice and research

JAPAN JOURNAL OF NURSING SCIENCE, Issue 2 2005
Dale H. LEA
Abstract Aim:, Clinical and research applications from human genome discoveries are growing and creating both opportunities and challenges to the integration of genetic concepts into practice and research. Nurses have a long history of caring for individuals, families, and groups with genetic conditions. In the past two decades, a small group of nurses in the USA have used a variety of strategies to further develop the field of genetics nursing. In this paper we identify innovative approaches to identifying genetics-related nursing roles and opportunities, as well as successful collaborative efforts beyond nursing to address the emerging health and societal challenges related to human genetics discoveries. Methods:, The information presented here comes from a variety of sources where the authors or genetics nurses directly participated, including: (i) a systematic literature review of genetics nursing; (ii) a comprehensive research study of models of delivering clinical genetics services and the roles of health professionals; and (iii) participation in numerous national research, planning, programmatic, and advisory groups involved with clinical genetics-related health services, research, education, and public policy. Results:, Genetics nurses in the US have developed innovative responses to genetics-related challenges within and beyond the profession of nursing. These include: (i) establishing an organization for nurses in genetics and gaining formal recognition of genetics as a specialty of nursing; (ii) defining the scope of genetics nursing practice and developing a new genetics nursing credential; (iii) establishing a multiprofessional genetics education coalition and defining genetic competency for health-care practice; (iv) creating new clinical practice roles for nurses that integrate emerging genetics concepts and skills into diverse clinical practice areas; (v) expanding nursing involvement in genetics-related research; and (vi) participation in high-level genetics advisory groups. Conclusions:, The US experience shows that nurses have made substantial progress in expanding their involvement in genetic services through visionary leadership, innovative approaches to challenges, establishing support with nurse colleagues, and engaging in multiprofessional efforts. The most important first step is developing a supportive environment for nurse advancement. In the US, the genetics nurses' organization known as the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG) has provided this base. [source]


Assessing the impact of nurse and allied health professional consultants: developing an activity diary

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 17-18 2010
Ann Humphreys
Aims., To construct and test an activity diary designed to measure the impact and explore the activities of nurse and allied health professional consultants in relation to each speciality and function of the role. Background., This was part of a funded feasibility study to assess the contribution of nurse and allied health professional consultants. Design., This was an exploratory study. Method., Thematic analysis of guided discussions with five nurse consultants and one physiotherapy consultant identified activities which were used to construct an activity diary. The activities were grouped under the four pillars or functions of the consultant role; expert practice, leadership, research and education. Participants recorded their activities in a diary over a one-week period. Conclusion., Results suggest that with some modification, this activity diary could be used to capture the impact, complexity and diversity of activities of the consultant role. Relevance to practice., Advanced practice roles are essential to the healthcare workforce of the future. This tool provides a method for measuring the contribution and complexity of the consultant role. [source]


Reporting a research project on the potential of aged care nurse practitioners in the Australian Capital Territory

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2009
Paul Arbon
Aim., This paper reports a project investigating the potential role of the nurse practitioner in aged care across residential, community and acute care venues in the Australian Capital Territory. Background., Australia, like many other countries, faces unprecedented challenges in the provision of health care. Escalating health care costs, an ageing population, increasing prevalence of comorbidities and chronic illnesses, inefficient health care delivery, changing models of health care and shifting professional role boundaries are factors that have contributed to the development of advanced practice roles for nursing. Design., This was a mixed methods study using multiple data sources. Methods., Student aged care nurse practitioners were examined across the continuum of care in the acute, community and residential aged care settings. The potential role of the nurse practitioner in these areas was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively to identify a model of care to enhance the delivery of efficient and effective health care. Results., The project findings have demonstrated that there is potential for significant improvement in client outcomes arising from a transboundary aged care nurse practitioner model. The improved outcomes are associated with a decrease in acute hospital admissions for residential care clients, timely intervention for a range of common conditions and strengthened multidisciplinary approaches to care provision for older people. Conclusions., Overall the project findings strongly support the potential of a transboundary aged care nurse practitioner role. This role would focus on skilled assessment, timely assessment and intervention, brokering around access to care and clinical leadership and education for nurses. Relevance to clinical practice., This paper offers further evidence of support for the role of nurse practitioners in complementing existing health services and improving delivery of care. [source]


Nurses' experiences of practice and political reform in long-term aged care in Australia: implications for the retention of nursing personnel

JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2007
LORRAINE VENTURATO PhD
Aim, The aim of the study was to explore registered nurses' experiences in long-term aged care in light of the political reform of aged care services in Australia. Background, In Australia, the aged care industry has undergone a lengthy period of political and structural reform. Despite reviews into various aspects of these reforms, there has been little consideration of the effect these are having on the practice experiences and retention of nursing staff in long-term care. Methods, In this critical hermeneutic study, 14 nurses from long-term care facilities in Australia were interviewed about their experiences during the reform period. Results, The data revealed a sense of tension and conflict between nurses' traditional values, roles and responsibilities and those supported by the reforms. Nurses struggled to renegotiate both their practice roles and values as the reforms were implemented and the system evolved. Nursing management support was an important aspect in mediating the effect of reforms on nursing staff. Conclusion, This research highlights both the tensions experienced by nurses in long-term aged care in Australia and the need to renegotiate nursing roles, responsibilities and values within an evolving care system. This research supports a role for sensitive and proactive nursing management during periods of industry reform as a retention strategy for qualified nursing personnel. [source]


International Collaboration: Initial Steps and Strategies

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 8 2000
Barbara Sheer DNSc, FAANP, FNP-C
ABSTRACT The nurse practitioner (NP) movement, which began in the United States in 1965, has caused sweeping changes both in nursing and in health care delivery. The concept of NPs then spread to the United Kingdom (U.K.) and continues to move globally. The international development of NPs has been streamlined through collaborative efforts of the U.S. and the U.K. There have been striking similarities in the evolution of expanded practice roles in both countries. In 1993, NPs from the U.S. and the U.K. came together to support the first international NP conference and, in the process, developed a framework for global international collaboration. This article summarizes the collective knowledge and the strategies for success developed through this collaborative effort. [source]


Exploring new advanced practice roles in community nursing: a critique

NURSING INQUIRY, Issue 1 2008
Kay Aranda
Attempts to ,modernize' the English National Health Service (NHS) have included significant workforce re-design, including the development of new, advanced roles in nursing. There is a wealth of evidence documenting and evaluating such roles in hospital and, to a lesser extent, in community settings. This paper builds on this work, drawing on recent post structural and sociological analyzes to theorize these roles, locating them within broader social and cultural changes taking place in healthcare and exploring how understandings of new roles in community nursing are in the process of being constructed. Building on a literature review, the paper draws out what an analysis of new advanced nursing roles in the community reveals about competing conceptualizations of the nursing mandate, the ambivalence and ambiguity that practitioners experience in shaping ,new' identities (the shaping of subjectivities), and the often implicit ideological positions that underpin such developments. [source]


Extended scope practitioners and clinical specialists: A place in rural health?

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2008
Sally A. Ruston
Abstract This review identifies two models of allied health advanced practitioner practice that are currently in place in the National Health Service in the United Kingdom (UK). A review of the background to advanced practitioner status is given for UK allied health professionals and comments made on the outcomes of the UK roles. Description of the work of Clinical Specialist and Extended Scope Practitioner is given. Alignment with senior physiotherapy staff roles in Australia is commented upon. Some barriers or impediments to implementation of such a system in Australia are discussed with respect to registration, funding and support. The feasibility of such advanced practice roles for physiotherapy is discussed while benefits and cautions are identified. The potential for such a model of health service to be used in Australia, particularly in rural and remote areas, is identified for debate. [source]