The characteristics of the Clinical Nurse Specialist role in New Zealand

The concept of advanced and specialist roles is not new in nursing practice and raises internationally relevant issues (Jacobs, 2007, Hamric, Spross & Hanson, 2005). It is widely acknowledged that such roles make valuable and positive contributions towards achieving better health outcomes for a variety of patient populations (Gardner, Carryer, Dunn & Gardner, 2004). While much has been written about the newly established Nurse Practitioner role in New Zealand, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), an equally valuable advanced practice role, is less explored. This research describes the characteristics of the CNS role in New Zealand by investigating how the CNS role is defined and experienced. Undertaken as a case study, the research used sequential mixed methods to investigate CNS job descriptions as documented by New Zealand District Health Boards and the experiences of practicing CNSs through semi-structured interviews. Fifteen job descriptions were analysed in phase one using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Overall there were inconsistencies found in how the CNS roles were defined, most notably concerning requirements for Post Graduate qualifications and Professional Development Recognition Programmes. Thematic analysis of the documents generated four themes relevant to the CNS role. The CNS was defined as a leader, a clinical expert, coordinator and an educator. The results of the analysis of CNS job description documents lead to focused questions being formulated for the interviews in phase two of the study. Five key themes emerged from the interview data in which the CNSs described their roles as being: a leader, the driving force of the specialty; an autonomous expert; a collaborator with integral relationships; an educator and sharer of expertise. The role also required extended time and care. While some consistent descriptions of the CNS role were found in both the job descriptions and the interviews, the research discussion focuses more on the inconsistencies. These exist around what Post Graduate qualifications are required and what is meant by ‘expertise’ in the CNS role. Specifically discussed is the absence of a defined scope of advanced practice for the CNS.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Roberts, Jennifer

• New Zealand
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• roles
• interviews

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6588

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6588