An update on the UKCC's work into higher level practice.

In the last specialist nursing supplement Sarah Waller described the background to the consultation process for recognizing and regulating a higher level of practice (Vol 7(16): 960-4). This article gives an overview of the responses to the consultation exercise and outlines what a higher level of practice will mean for the nursing profession. It was generally agreed that the present system of specialist practice is too complex and therefore confusing. In addition, the UKCC has recognized that professional practice has moved on since PREP and that there is a need to move away from a task-oriented and functionalist paradigm. It was also felt that the specialist framework is too narrow and does not cater for expert nurses who wish to stay in general, as opposed to specialist, clinical areas.