A framework for description and evaluation of the nurse specialist role in South Australia

Professionalising forces in nursing, burgeoning costs and increasing crises in medical care in rural and remote areas have led to the development of specialty nursing. However, description and evaluation of the role of the Nurse Specialist in the Australian context has not been well documented. This interpretive study was designed to explore the major components of Nurse Specialist roles in South Australia and to develop a framework for description and evaluation of these roles. A total of 30 Nurse Specialists from two major metropolitan teaching hospitals participated in focus groups to explore their roles. Role components were used to develop tools and a framework for describing and evaluating these roles. Participants identified clinical, educational, professional development, management and research as key components of the Nurse Specialist role. The results highlighted the diversity within the role for each Nurse Specialist and the need for a comprehensive range of evaluation tools. Recommendations arising from the research suggest that evaluation strategies need to be accompanied by appropriate staff education and be sensitive to the social, political and economic context of practice.