Concept analysis of expertise of occupational health nurses applying Rodgers’s evolutionary model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the concept of expertise among occupational health nurses. The material consisted of 24 research articles and one theory article published between 1983 and 1997. These were analysed using Rodgers's concept analysis model. The analysis revealed that the surrogate term was authority, and the related concepts were specialist, professional, practitioner and generalist. The attributes of the concept of expertise were associated with roles, profession, position, title and functions. The antecedents of the expertise were identified as knowledge and skills, education, training, experience, personal characteristics and work-related opportunities. The consequences of the expertise were economic and health benefits. Most commonly, the expertise of occupational health nurses referred to clients, workplaces and health-care units. Changes in the concept of expertise were also examined and a definition of expertise formed. Concept clarification is necessary for the development of occupational health education, practice and theory building.

The expertise of Finnish occupational health nurses

“…Based on the results from four previous Finnish qualitative studies (Naumanen‐Tuomela, 2001a,b,c; 2002) of the same health‐care system and culture, an original questionnaire, “The Expertise of the Occupational Health Nurse”, was designed for this study by forming qualitative results into variables and grouping them the main activities, features, prerequisites, and benefits of expertise. Demographic data included age, sex, professional education, type of health service unit, work experience, position in the unit, and available opportunities for further continuing professional education (Table 1).…”

“…These skills deepen and broaden over time as nurses acquire more work experience. The positive personal characteristics of expert nurses and supportive working conditions also contribute to their expertise and the likelihood of positive outcomes among clients, their workplaces, nurses, and their units (Naumanen‐Tuomela, 2001a).…”

Response

“…It means that the number of occupational health nurses and researchers in this field, as well as studies concerning their work, is still low in most of countries. I have done some from the point of view of occupational health nurses’ expertise (Naumanen‐Tuomela 2001a,b,c,d). However, the point was not to present just occupational health nurses role in this study, because (1) other occupational health professionals also participated in this study and (2) the focus was on ageing problems and how to promote their health.…”