title: A comparison of job descriptions for nurse practitioners working in out-of-hours primary care services: implications for workforce planning, patients and nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare and contrast job descriptions for nursing roles in out-of-hours services to obtain a general understanding of what is required for a nurse working in this job.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Out-of-hours services provide nursing services to patients either through telephone or face-to-face contact in care centres. Many of these services are newly created giving job opportunities to nurses working in this area. It is vital that nurses know what their role entails but also that patients and other professionals know how out-of-hours nurses function in terms of competence and clinical role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis of out-of-hours job descriptions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis of a convenience sample of 16 job descriptions of out-of-hours nurses from five out-of-hours care providers across England was undertaken. The findings were narratively synthesised, supported by tabulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key role descriptors were examined in terms of job titles, managerial skills, clinical skills, professional qualifications and previous experience. Content analysis of each out-of-hours job description revealed a lack of consensus in clinical competence and skills required related to job title although there were many similarities in skills across all the roles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights key differences and some similarities between roles and job titles in out-of-hours nursing but requires a larger study to inform workforce planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Out-of-hours nursing is a developing area of practice which requires clarity to ensure patient safety and quality care.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Studies - Division of Nursing, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teare
authors.affiliation: School of Health Studies - Division of Nursing, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.|Bradford Institute for Health Research, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6153-8547
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.affiliation: Shropshire Doctors Co-operative Limited, Shrewsbury, UK.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: School of Health Studies - Division of Nursing, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.|Bradford Institute for Health Research, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohammed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards*
keywords: advanced nurse practitioner; job descriptions; nurse practitioner; out-of-hours nursing