RESEARCH ARTICLE
Measuring the Contribution and Complexity of Nurse and Physiotherapy Consultants: A Feasibility Study
Janet Richardson*, 1, Roberta Ainsworth2, Ann Humphreys3, Elizabeth Stenhouse4, Mary Watkins5
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2008Volume: 2
First Page: 8
Last Page: 14
Publisher ID: TONURSJ-2-8
DOI: 10.2174/1874434600802010008
PMID: 19319215
PMCID: PMC2582828
Article History:
Received Date: 27/9/2007Revision Received Date: 28/11/2007
Acceptance Date: 6/12/2007
Electronic publication date: 4/1/2008
Collection year: 2008

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Advanced practice roles in nursing and other health professions have become integral to a range of healthcare services world-wide providing experienced practitioners with the opportunity to extend their roles and influence decision making whilst maintaining patient contact. However, there has been limited research to evaluate the impact on health services of these advanced practice roles.
The aim of this feasibility study was to analyse Nurse and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Consultant activity in the four functions of the role (education, expert practice, leadership, research). A structured diary assessed the activity of five Consultant Nurses and one Consultant Physiotherapist over a one week period. Detailed analysis of a clinic carried out by one of the Consultants was undertaken using a mapping procedure.
Results suggest that the activity diary, combined with mapping of activities, illustrate the complexity and variety of the role and facilitate meaningful reflection on what advanced practitioners do.