title: Capacity development for community health nurses in Pakistan: the assistant manager role.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community health nurses (CHNs), as leaders in developing countries, can promote successful outcomes in meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals. A community-based organization in Pakistan is striving to achieve the goals of maternal and child health through the development of the assistant manager role for community health nursing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of the role of the CHN assistant manager, with the goal of strengthening that role.
  
  
  METHODS
  This interpretive, qualitative study included 13 participants already familiar with CHNs in Pakistan. Interviewing was utilized to explore perceptions of the assistant manager role and to uncover challenges currently existing within this new role.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content analysis revealed the following themes: 'role perceptions', 'expectations of the role' and 'collaboration with other community healthcare providers'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes to the role are necessary including increased education of the assistant manager CHNs and preparing administration to work with the assistant mangers for effective leadership.
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University, School of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gulzar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Upvall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010154:Pakistan; D036301:Qualitative Research