[Domains in the clinical practice of Clinical Nursing Experts in Germany and their correspondence with the internationally described "Advanced Nursing Practice"].
In spite of a growing trend toward academic education and increasing numbers of "nursing experts" functioning as change agents in Germany, actual nursing experts as in the internationally described Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP) are scarce. Drawing from a ten-year experience in implementing the international concept, the University Hospital Freiburg (UKF), Germany, constitutes a notable exception, as it presently employs ten clinically practicing nursing experts. Based on this background of educating nursing experts, this presentation aims at describing the implementation of the nursing expert's role and its fit and conformance with the international ANP. A 3-stage Delphi design was used for interviewing all the nursing experts at the hospital (n = 10) about their expert opinions; in addition, all nursing managers (n = 7) as well as unit and team leaders (n = 49) were asked about their opinion to relevant functions and domains of nursing experts. The following clinical practice domains of nursing experts were identified: Direct patient care, patient education, support and supervision of nurses, maintenance and expansion of professional skills and knowledge of the nursing staff, counselling of managers, quality assurance and organizational development, theory to practice transfer, nursing research, maintenance of own professional skills and knowledge and continuing education, and publicity work. Additionally, a three-year nursing education, a longer lasting professional experience, a degree in nursing science or nursing education, and specialist skills in the respective area of expertise were identified as credentials for nursing expert practice. The nursing expert concept at UKF shows elements of the international ANP with similarities to the role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Mendel
Simon
S
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Pflegedirektion, Freiburg, Deutschland. simon.mendel@web.de
Feuchtinger
Johanna
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009732:Nursing Care; D009742:Nursing Theory