title: Protecting an endangered species: the contribution and constraints of nurses working in a specialist role.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The project aims to assess current specialist practice in relation to the new and ever-changing healthcare climate and explore some of the issues that specialist nurses encounter.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The current financial recession is driving a range of economic policy changes and consequently service provision, in particular the work and impact of nurses working in a specialist role, being examined. This has resulted in many specialist nurses feeling very vulnerable.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey was completed by nurses working in specialist roles (n = 96) in a large health and social care setting in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 62% was achieved: 44% provide nurse led clinics and 42% are nurse prescribers. The mean length of time qualified as a registered nurse was 27 years. Less than a third felt that the current computer system for activity recording reflected their current workload and 65% needed administrative support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the insufficient resources available to specialist nurses resulting in inappropriate but necessary, use of time and restricted opportunities for learning and development.
authors.affiliation: Western Health and Social Care Trust, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Londonderry, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCorkell
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Bernie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michaelides
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coates
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D006113:United Kingdom; D014937:Work / Q000639:trends*
keywords: contribution; resources; role expansion; specialist nurse; survey