An evaluation of critical care lecturer practitioners

The aim of this study was to evaluate the educational value and impact upon staff of critical care lecturer practitioners. Data were collected through three staff focus groups (n=21) and a questionnaire completed by 70 members of trust or university staff. A majority of respondents felt that the lecturer practitioner roles had considerable effect upon adult critical care services. Six main categories of findings were derived from analysis and integration of both focus group and questionnaire data--development of knowledge; staff support; being a teacher; developing and maintaining the workforce; role improvement plus removal of the lecturer practitioner role. Many of these findings concur with the limited quantity of evaluative literature on the lecturer practitioner role. The authors produced a report recommending continued funding for existing lecturer practitioner posts; introduction of more lecturer practitioner posts should be considered, and further role evaluation should be conducted at both a local and national level.