Changing roles of nurses in Scotland. A survey of developing clinical roles within NHS trusts in Scotland.

OBJECTIVES

A position paper to enhance understanding of:- the range of role developments within nursing in Scotland; the educational and managerial preparation planned and undertaken for the introduction of new nursing roles; the implications of new roles with regard to working practices, career development and organisational issues; the perceived benefits and drawbacks of new roles; the nature of role evaluations; plans for future development.

DESIGN

A survey of eighteen executive Nurse Directors across Scotland who were interviewed about new clinical roles for registered nursing staff currently being developed within their NHS Trust. A postal survey was also conducted including the remaining NHS Trusts in Scotland. A sampling framework was constructed based on: geographical location (at least one NHS Trust from each of the twelve Mainland Health Board areas was sampled); type of NHS Trust (sample was undertaken to include a representation of major teachinghospitals, district general hospitals and community and mental health services).

SETTING

NHS Trusts in Scotland. August-October 1995.

SUBJECTS

Executive Nurse Directors and in some settings Nurse Managers and nurses undertaking new roles in NHS Trusts in Scotland.

RESULTS

New roles identified for nurses fitted into two main categories:- additional skills which were new to existing roles; developing posts which incorporated many new skills. There were four types of developing posts:- Medical Support Nurses; Clinical Nurse Specialists; Advanced Practitioners; Practice Development Facilitators.

CONCLUSIONS

New roles for nurses were considered to be beneficial for patients, nurses and the organisation. Protocol usage and educational input into the new roles was variable. Formal evaluation was not well established at the time of the survey.