Workforce

Area of Science:

• Healthcare policy
• Nursing regulation
• Professional roles

Background:

• The nursing profession previously phased out the enrolled nurse role.
• Assistant practitioners (APs) are emerging as a new category of healthcare worker.
• Current healthcare systems face cost pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the implications of regulating assistant practitioners (APs) as 'second level nurses'.
• To examine the historical parallels between APs and the former enrolled nurse role.
• To understand the driving forces behind the proposed regulatory changes.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis of current proposals.
• Historical review of nursing role evolution.
• Examination of employer-driven workforce strategies.

Main Results:

• The proposal to regulate APs as 'second level nurses' represents a cyclical return to a previously abolished role.
• This resurgence is largely influenced by healthcare employers seeking to manage operational costs.
• The nursing profession's historical stance on the enrolled nurse role is contrasted with current employer needs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed regulation of APs signifies a potential regression in nursing workforce structure.
• Employer demand for cost reduction is a primary factor in reviving historical nursing roles.
• The long-term impact on nursing standards and patient care requires further investigation.