Concept Analysis: The Scope of Practice of a Nurse Anesthetist in South Africa.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to propose a definition for the concept "scope of practice" as it applies to a nurse anesthetist in South Africa.

DESIGN

Concept analysis.

METHODS

Walker and Avant's procedure of concept analysis was followed. The actions included "Select a concept"; "Determine the purpose of analysis"; "Identifying uses of the concept"; "Determining the defining attributes"; "Identifying antecedents and consequences"; "Define empirical referents"; "Identify model case"; and "Identifying additional cases."

FINDINGS

The concept 'scope of practice' as it applies to the nurse anesthetist in South Africa can be defined as the individual's competence, accountability, and responsibility as a health professional. The nurse anesthetist is (1) competent: ready to use skills and judgement in practice; (2) accountable: able to be registered as a nurse anesthetist and willing to abide by the regulations; and (3) responsible: upholding professionalism and demanding recognition from the public and peers.

CONCLUSIONS

A definition (revealing the concept's structure) and it's uses (revealing the concept's function) for "scope of practice" of a South African nurse anesthetist is proposed for the consideration of introducing nurse anesthesia to provide safe and affordable anesthesia services in South Africa. This article forms part of a larger study titled "A Model for Nurse Anaesthesia Practice in South Africa."