The specialist nurse: a classification system

This paper focuses on the important developments of specialty nursing practice within Australia and reports the results of a recent survey of specialist nurses in Victoria. Debate among the worldwide nursing community reflects confusion and ambiguity about specialist practice. Similarly, variation, duplication and inconsistency characterise the status of specialist nurse education in Australia. This situation contributes to role problems for specialist nurses and may arise from their lack of contribution to the decision making process. Seventy-five nurses undertaking a range of specialist nursing courses offered by three educational providers (a university, major teaching hospital and professional organisation) completed a survey questionnaire to establish the extent to which they agreed with the major recommendations proposed in the National Review of Specialist Nurse Education (Specialist Review) (Russell et al 1997). Despite contention within the profession, specialist nurses in Victoria show support for a unified approach toward definition, title and credentials. The discussion specifically addresses the implications for the future classification of specialist nurses in Australia.