An action research project to develop and evaluate the role of an advanced nurse practitioner in dementia

This paper outlines the first phase of a project to generate and evaluate the role of an advanced nurse practitioner inductively from first principles. The role was developed by interviewing a wide range of health-care professionals, careers and patients. The resulting role is responsive to perceived need at grassroots level rather than to the needs of managers with no clinical experience. Although the role might not be generalizable to other settings, the method can be applied to any role in any clinical area.