title: Nursing care of children in general practice settings: roles and responsibilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine roles and responsibilities of Practice Nurses in the area of child health and development and in advising parents about child health issues.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  As the focus of Australia's health care system shifts further towards the primary health care sector, governmental initiatives require that Practice Nurses are knowledgeable, confident and competent in providing care in the area of child health and development. Little is known about roles and responsibilities of Practice Nurses in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practice Nurses completed a national online survey examining the roles and responsibilities in child health and development, professional development needs and role satisfaction. Data were collected from June 2010-April 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents (N = 159) reported having a significant role in well and sick child care and were interested in extending their role. Frequent activities included immunization, phone triage/advice, child health/development advice, wound care and Healthy Kids Checks. However, few had paediatric/child nursing backgrounds or postgraduate qualifications in paediatric nursing and they reported limited preparation for the role. Practice Nurses reported difficulties with keeping up-to-date with child health information and advising parents confidently. Satisfaction was relatively low regarding opportunities and encouragement to undertake professional development and expand scope of practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practice Nurses are largely unprepared to meet the demands of their child health role and need support to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge base necessary for high-quality, evidence-based practice. Both financial and time support is needed to enable Practice Nurses to access child health professional development.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002322:Career Mobility; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064703:Family Nurse Practitioners / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000592:standards; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: child health; nurses; nurses' professional role; nursing; primary health care; professional development