Balancing skill mix--future paediatric health care provision

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Pediatric Nursing

Background:

• Nursing service managers are re-evaluating staff skill mix due to cost-quality pressures and the need for hands-on care.
• Defining the nurse's role and the function of skill mix review is crucial for effective workforce planning.
• The debate includes traditional all-qualified staff models versus multiskilled workforces in patient-focused settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the reasons for developing the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Support Worker role.
• To compare NVQ Support Workers with Project 2000 trained staff nurses for employment considerations.
• To analyze the future role of children's nurses in light of the 1991 Clothier Report recommendations for specialist staff in pediatrics.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of arguments surrounding different nursing workforce models.
• Examination of the development and comparative roles of support workers and trained nurses.
• Analysis of the pediatric healthcare field in relation to specific reports and recommendations.

Main Results:

• The paper highlights the evolving landscape of nursing roles and the integration of support staff.
• It contrasts the employment considerations for NVQ Support Workers and Project 2000 nurses.
• The study addresses the impact of the Clothier Report on specialist training in pediatric nursing.

Conclusions:

• Skill mix review is essential for optimizing nursing services, balancing cost and quality.
• The roles of NVQ Support Workers and Project 2000 nurses present distinct employment profiles.
• The future of pediatric nursing likely involves increased specialist training and redefined roles for children's nurses.