title: An evaluation of a community aged care nurse practitioner service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An evaluation is presented that aimed to augment current understandings of the nurse practitioner role by investigating potential outcomes of a community aged care nurse practitioner (ACNP) service on clients and the health care team.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In Australia, the nurse practitioner role is being implemented in a variety of health care settings and is characterized by extended practice: prescribing of medications, requests for diagnostic investigations, referral to medical specialists and admitting clients to inpatient facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory qualitative evaluation method through data collection by interview and thematic analysis was undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  All clients referred to the ACNP service between June and August 2003, and a convenience sample of health professionals, were invited to participate in individual semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings suggested that an ACNP could provide a high quality of holistic nursing care and positively affect clients' physical and psychological symptom management, enhance clients' quality of life, assist with supplies, provide health education and assist with advocacy. Health professionals commented on effective collaboration with the ACNP service during their partnerships in client care provision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the positive effects of the ACNP service on clients and the health care team support the full implementation of the role within the community setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Funding support for the nurse practitioner role is a vital addition to consideration in the development of international policy on advanced practice nursing. Without adequate funding, the full benefits of the nurse practitioner role in clinical practice, as suggested by the findings presented in this evaluation, will be compromised.
authors.affiliation: Royal District Nursing Service, Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. jallen@rdns.com.au
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fabri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D014739:Victoria