THE ROLE OF REGISTERED NURSE IN 21ST CENTURY

The Role Of Registered nurse In 21st Century

The Role Of Registered nurse In 21st Century

Introduction

In order to critically analyze the role of a registered nurse I feel it is important to look at the definition of a registered nurse role ? discuss and examine events leading to the existence and development of such roles (history) and finally the impact on quality of patient care of a registered nurse. The author's current area of practice- a nine bedded adult intensive care unit ? where no such role currently exists. However ? the author will examine the potentialities of such a role ? the possible benefits to patient care and barriers which may be encountered by a registered nurse in this environment.

I will use research in order to identify key aspects the role would be likely to encompass ? and then analyze and evaluate the advanced/registered nurses role and conceptual framework will be applied. Discussion will also include possible legal and professional implications of the role and how it may be affected in the current climate of the NHS of ever changing and diversifying roles in order to meet patient demands.

Discussion

Registered nurse is an expert practitioner and professional leader able to assess information and mange change ? someone who is capable of understanding and solving complex problems ? able to shape the agenda for the future. (DOH ? 2000) Since 1972 The Briggs Report (cited by Bowler and Mallik ? 1998) recognized an overlap between nursing and medical roles ? and where these duties were performed by registered nurses they were termed 'extended roles.

In 1977 the DHSS (cited by Last ? 1992) stated that the clinical nursing role may be extended by delegation from a doctor and in response to an emergency. Registered nurses had to gain certificates of competence in order to perform tasks referred to as extended roles ? leaving minimal scope for registered nurses to take control of decisions necessary for patient care delivery (Bowler and Mallik ? 1998). Thus registered nurses' expanded roles at this time appeared to be task orientated ? and served the needs of doctors rather than necessarily those of patients.

The scope of practice appears to give registered nurses more freedom in practice. Koefmann and Woods (1995) described how scope enabled registered nurses in one trust to move the boundaries of care in almost unlimited ways ? for example ? the setting up of registered nurse led clinics. With the removal of need for certification and the placement of onus on individual registered nurses to decide in what ways to expand their practice ? certain legal and professional issues are raised. These will be discussed later in further detail.In accordance with scope ? a range of new roles for registered nurses have since evolved in response to the major changes in UK healthcare and therefore service delivery ? national policies and moves to more patient focused care (Spilsbury and Meyer ? 2001). Indeed ? registered nurses could be ...