The progress of family health nursing in remote and rural Scotland.
Since 2001 the World Health Organization Europe's family health nurse (FHN) role has been developing in remote and rural areas of Scotland. In 2003, an independent evaluation identified a need for facilitation of the FHN role and family-health orientated approaches with local primary health care teams. The Scottish Executive Health Department appointed three part-time, regionally-based family health practice development facilitators (FHPDFs) in December 2003 to work over an 18-month period. This article presents findings from a small study which sought these FHPDFs' judgements on individual FHN autonomy and supportive colleague action at 24 sites where FHNs were practising. These judgements reveal a picture of mixed progress that is consistent with findings from other related research. This collective overview is presented in the form of a new typology and the resultant implications for future development of family health nursing are discussed.
Macduff
Colin
C
School of Nursing and Midwifery, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. c.macduff@rgu.ac.uk
D022143:Family Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012423:Rural Health / Q000592:standards*; D012606:Scotland