Core components of the Rural Nurse Specialist role in New Zealand

New Zealand has a rural population with unique health needs which were traditionally provided by General Practitioners (GPs) practicing within a rural area (Goodyear & Janes, 2008). The Rural Nurse Specialist (RNS) role developed in response to a decline in GPs in rural areas. The RNS is a registered nurse (RN) with advanced nursing skills, enabling independent and autonomous practice. The RNS role has developed according to local needs leading to limited consistent information regarding the RNS. This thesis was undertaken to provide a description of the RNS role within New Zealand. METHOD A descriptive exploratory approach was taken for this study. Phase One involved a document analysis of five position descriptions of Rural Nurse Specialist or similar from district health boards. In Phase Two four RNSs from rural areas participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using categories from the Modified Strong Model of Advanced Practice (Gardner, Chang, & Duffield, 2007). RESULTS The RNS role is an advanced practice role which focusses on direct patient care, creating a specialist generalist role. RNSs have an advanced knowledge base to assess, treat and diagnose patients within nurse-led clinics, and to provide after-hours emergency services. Engaging in postgraduate education is a priority for the RNS. Lack of recognition of the RNS role affects effective collaboration with other health professionals. CONCLUSIONS RNSs provide independent patient care including assessment, diagnosis and treatment. In order to provide independent patient care it is important that RNSs have postgraduate education. RNSs perceive the NP role to be better recognised than the RNS role, and all were considering furthering their advanced practice by becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Bell, Jennie

• New Zealand
• rural nurses
• roles
• interviews

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6385

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6385