Do anaemia co-ordinators have to be nurses?

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Nursing Management

Background:

• The introduction of erythropoietin therapy for renal anaemia has led to the development of specialized anaemia coordinator roles in UK hospitals.
• Traditionally, these roles were predominantly held by nurses, but evolving models now incorporate interdisciplinary collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To informally evaluate the experience of a joint pharmacist and clinical nurse specialist working as an anaemia coordinator.
• To delineate the boundaries, potential conflicts, and complementarities between pharmacist and nurse responsibilities in anaemia management.
• To clarify the specific contributions of pharmacy and nursing disciplines to the comprehensive management of anaemia.

Main Methods:

• An informal evaluation based on diary entries from the joint post holders.
• Analysis of the service components provided by the anaemia coordinator team.
• Critical examination of assumptions and expectations related to generic pharmacist and nurse roles.

Main Results:

• The joint working model provided a comprehensive service for renal anaemia management.
• Negotiating the boundaries between pharmacist and nurse roles highlighted both areas of potential conflict and significant complementarity.
• The study identified specific, distinct contributions from both pharmacy and nursing expertise.

Conclusions:

• Joint working between pharmacists and nurses in anaemia coordination roles is effective.
• Understanding and defining interprofessional boundaries enhances the management of renal anaemia.
• This collaborative model optimizes the utilization of diverse disciplinary expertise for improved patient care in anaemia management.