title: Nurses in advanced roles: a review of acceptability in Portugal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper focuses on the policy context for the deployment of nurses in advanced roles, with particular reference to Portugal. The health sector in Portugal, as in all countries, is labour intensive, and the scope to utilise nurses in more advanced roles is currently being debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed methods were used: an analysis of international data on the nursing workforce; an analysis of documents and media articles; interviews with key-informants; an online survey of managers, and a technical workshop with key-informants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The limited evidence base on nurses in advanced roles in Portugal is a constraint on progress, but it is not an excuse for inaction. Further research in Portugal on health professionals in innovative roles would assist in informing policy direction. There is the need to move forward with a fully informed policy dialogue, taking account of the current political, economic and health service realities of Portugal.
authors: School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK. jbuchan@qmu.ac.uk
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Buchan
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Temido
authors: Ines
authors: I
authors: Fronteira
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Lapão
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Dussault
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D038622:Internationality; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011174:Portugal