Role of the nurse consultant in tissue viability

Abstract

Nurse consultant posts were introduced in 2000 with a view to expanding the role of nurses. The author was appointed as a nurse consultant in tissue viability to develop the service already in place in her trust and improve patient care. This article describes the role of the nurse consultant working in tissue viability and identifies the qualities and skills needed to undertake this role.

Evaluating the perceived role of the nurse consultant through the lived experience of healthcare professionals

“…From these articles 10 are research focused (Table 1) and 135 associated with informing the NC debate. The critical review and synthesis of the empirical literature (Table 1) and some selected discussion papers on the NC (Berragan 1998, Schulmeister 1999, Adams 2000, Ashworth 2000, Wright 2000, Alderman & Lipley 2001, Harker 2001, Moore 2001, Snedd 2001, Da Costa 2002, Jones 2002, Watson 2002, Coady 2003, Meiner 2004, McSherry & Johnson 2005) provides evidence that evaluation of the NC role is taking place. The literature highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of the NC on a international (Hewitt & Tellier 1996, Happell et al.…”

“…Taking Graham and Wallace (2005) and Dawson and Benson (1997) arguments into account, the reality of achieving a common set of role attributes and responsibilities for the NC role seem difficult to achieve. The works of Harker (2001), Coady (2003), Hayes and Harrison (2004) suggest that the optimal way of defining the NC role should be based on a combination of professional guidance and government policy. This approach should be used to enable individual NCs to define the role which best suits them, their clients and the organization.…”

“…Performing the NC role according to Harker (2001), Jones (2002) is complex, challenging and fraught with difficulty in the way the individual and organization interpret and operationalize the four key functions of the role. The evaluation studies by Guest et al.…”

“…Woodward et al. (2005), Harker (2001) suggest the NC roles are influenced by the characteristics of the post holder and the extent of implementation of extended practice. For example, one area that has been noted as a variance is the length of time in specialist practice.…”

“…2001, Hayes & Harrison 2004, Woodward et al. 2005) and selected literature (Harker 2001) as a key factor in achieving the role. For this to occur, support is viewed at three levels, individual, organizational and national.…”