Introducing a lecturer-practitioner: the management perspective

The West Midlands Regional Health Authority Department of Nursing funded a 1-year study to look at 'Implementation aspects of the lecturer-practitioner role (in nursing)'. A feasibility study was carried out from November 1992 to October 1993 to address the issue and highlight areas requiring more in-depth study. Twenty-nine subjects working as or with lecturer-practitioners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interview was divided into two discrete parts. The first section contained a mixture of open and closed questions and the second section adopted a modified repertory grid technique. This paper provides the main results from the first half of the interview. The study describes in practical terms how managers need to plan for the introduction of a lecturer-practitioner post; the key responsibilities of the role; and a person specification. The work identifies clear prerequisite criteria for job role and gives guidance on lecturer-practitioner management and function.