The capability of nurse practitioners may be diminished by controlling protocols.
Nurse practitioners will become a vital component of the health workforce because of the growing need to manage chronic illness, to deliver effective primary health services, and to manage workforce challenges effectively. In addition, the role of nurse practitioner is an excellent example of increased workforce flexibility and changes to occupational boundaries. This paper draws on an Australasian research project which defined the core role of nurse practitioners, and identified capability as the component of their level of practice that makes their service most useful. We argue that any tendency to write specific protocols to define the limits of nurse practitioner practice will reduce the efficacy of their contribution. The distinction we wish to make in this paper is between guidelines aiming to support practice, and protocols which aim to control practice.
Carryer
Jenny
J
School of Health Sciences, Massey University, PO Box 11-22, Palmerston North 5301, New Zealand. J.B.Carryer@massey.ac.nz
Gardner
Glenn
G
Dunn
Sandra
S
Gardner
Anne
A
D044362:Australasia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome