title: Measuring actual scope of nursing practice: a new tool for nurse leaders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : This project describes the development and testing of the actual scope of nursing practice questionnaire.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  : Underutilization of the skill sets of registered nurses (RNs) is a widespread concern. Cost-effective, safe, and efficient care requires support by management to facilitate the implementation of nursing practice at the full scope.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Literature review, expert consultation, and face validity testing were used in item development. The instrument was tested with 285 nurses in 22 medical units in 11 hospitals in Canada.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : The 26-item, 6-dimension questionnaire demonstrated validity and reliability. The responses suggest that nurses practice at less than their optimal scope, with key dimensions of professional practice being implemented infrequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : This instrument can help nurse leaders increase the effective use of RN time in carrying out the full scope of their professional practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Montréal, Canada. danielle.damour@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Amour
authors.forename: Carl-Ardy
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Déry
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tchouaket
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blais
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivard
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires