title: Investigating the role of Clinical Nurse Consultants in one health district from multiple stakeholder perspectives: a cooperative inquiry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impetus for this research came from a group of 11 Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNCs) within a health service in NSW, Australia, who wanted to investigate the CNC role from multiple stakeholder perspectives. With support from academic researchers, the CNCs designed and implemented the study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research project was to investigate the role of the CNC from the multiple perspectives of CNCs and other stakeholders who work with CNCs in the Health District.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a co-operative inquiry that utilised qualitative descriptive research approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Co-operative inquiry methods enabled 11 CNCs to work as co-researchers and to conduct the investigation. The co-researchers implemented a qualitative descriptive design for the research and used interviews (7) and focus groups (16) with CNC stakeholders (n = 103) to gather sufficient data to investigate the role of the CNC in the organisation. Thematic analysis was undertaken to obtain the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CNC role is invaluable to all stakeholders and it was seen as the "glue" which holds teams together. Stakeholder expectations of the CNC role were multiple and generally agreed. Five themes derived from the data are reported as "clinical leadership as core", "making a direct difference to patient care", "service development as an outcome", "role breadth or narrowness and boundaries", and "career development". There was clear appreciation of the work that CNCs do in their roles, and the part that the CNC role plays in achieving quality health outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of the CNC is complex and the CNCs themselves often negotiate these complexities to ensure beneficial outcomes for the patient and organisation. For the wider audience this study has given further insights into the role of these nurses and the perspectives of those with whom they work.
authors.affiliation: a School of Health Sciences , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.|b Tasmanian Health Service - Southern Region , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: c Clinical Nurse Consultant , South Eastern Sydney Local Health District , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bothe
authors.affiliation: d Nurse Manager , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beaven
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Vhari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: d Nurse Manager , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.|e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horning
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Bronia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kandl
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nonu
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Nurse Consultant , Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: f School of Nursing and Midwifery , Monash University , Clayton , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Cheryle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D003253:Consultants; D017144:Focus Groups; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009517:New South Wales; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D024802:Nurse's Role; D005791:Patient Care
keywords: Clinical Nurse Consultants; advanced practice nursing; clinical leadership; co-operative inquiry; nurse’s role; nursing workforce; qualitative description