title: The role of the advanced clinical nurse in a hypertension clinic.
abstract: The use of advanced clinical nurses (ACNs) has enabled expansion of the Hypertension Clinic at the Johannesburg Hospital. The ACNs care for elderly patients whose hypertension is stable and who require a minimum of drugs. Blood pressure control in this group of patients is satisfactory and the default rate is low. The ACN therefore appears acceptable, at least to the patient. However, problems of continuing education, evaluation and official recognition remain. The case for allowing the ACN to prescribe from a limited pharmacopoeia is presented.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D013019:South Africa; D013223:Statistics as Topic