A challenge for clinical nurses: a new nursing role

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Difficulty attracting resident medical officers (RMOs) to Sydney's outer western suburbs.
• Nepean Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) initiated the clinical assistant (CA) role in 1992.
• The CA role was developed to support medical staff and enhance patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and scope of the clinical assistant (CA) nursing role.
• To assess the expansion of the CA role from ICU to surgical, pediatric, and mental health divisions.
• To provide recommendations for the ongoing development and integration of the CA position.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive job description for the CA role was developed, including clinical, educational, research, and managerial components.
• Variations in CA practice were noted across different clinical areas (e.g., ICU vs. mental health).
• A working party, including CAs and hospital administrators, conducted an extensive evaluation in 1995.

Main Results:

• The CA role demonstrated success in the intensive care unit, leading to its expansion.
• The CA position encompasses advanced nursing skills and responsibilities across diverse specialties.
• Evaluation recommendations were positively received by hospital management, indicating role acceptance.

Conclusions:

• The clinical assistant (CA) role is a viable and effective solution to address nursing and medical staffing challenges.
• The adaptable nature of the CA role allows for successful implementation across various hospital divisions.
• The positive reception of evaluation recommendations suggests a sustainable future for the CA position within Nepean Hospital.