The purpose of this study was two-fold: to identify role functions and characteristics perceived as important to Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in Texas, and to identify differences in perceived importance of role functions and characteristics of ANPs according to gender, educational preparation, practice setting, and whether the practitioner entered practice before or after the current rules and regulations for ANP practice were adopted. Two questionnaires and a demographic data form were mailed to 300 ANPs in primary health care in Texas, with 152 responding. Data from the questionnaire, "Characteristics of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner," were analyzed using independent group t-tests. The findings indicated that the characteristics "person-oriented," "perceptive," and "skilled in problem-solving" were the most valued by the practitioners, while aggressive" was the least valued. Independent group t-tests were used to analyze data from the instrument, "Advanced Nurse Practitioner Functions." The results of this analysis were not significant. The Chi square test was used to further examine data from this questionnaire to determine if the responses differed from chance. With the exception of four items, all of the responses differed significantly from chance. The responses "extremely important or important" were selected significantly more frequently that any of the other options. Not appropriate," was selected significantly more often than could be expected by chance for two functions: suturing minor lacerations and performing incision and drainage of wounds. Fourteen functions were examined further using frequency, percentage of responses, and the Chi square test to determine if there were differences in responses between groups. There were significant differences in responses between ANPs in nurse-managed settings and those in physician-managed settings on four functions: ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing medications in consultation with a physician, suturing minor lacerations, and performing incision and drainage of wounds. Practice setting and educational preparation were the variables which had the greatest impact on perceived importance of the characteristics and functions to ANP practice.

Magister Curationis - MCur / In South Africa, the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) for professional nurses provides a structure for training and career progression in the Public Health Sector. It necessitates the urgency for professional nurses who are working in specialty units at hospitals, to study further in advanced post-graduate nursing sciences programmes, e.g. advanced psychiatric nursing. Professional nurses were not informed about the implications of the OSD for practice, prior to implementation. It was unclear how advanced psychiatric nurses were experiencing their practice in an OSD hospital setting. In this study, the experiences of advanced psychiatric nurses who were practising at an OSD psychiatric public hospital led to the description of guidelines for supporting these nurses during their practice in an OSD ward. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was followed. The study population consisted of advanced psychiatric nurses (N = 50). Purposive sampling was conducted until data saturation was reached. Eight participants were included in the sample. In-depth unstructured individual interviews were conducted with each of these participants. Field notes were kept and voice recordings of all interview sessions were captured. The researcher conducted a pilot study with one participant in order to detect possible flaws that could occur during the data collection process. The data analysis where themes were identified was based on Tesch‟s method of qualitative analysis. A literature control supported the findings of this study. Subsequently, guidelines were described from the findings according to the method of Muller (2001:204-205). Trustworthiness was maintained by using the criteria of Guba‟s model; that is credibility, transferability, confirmability, and dependability. The ethical principles of the right to self-determination, withdrawal from the research study, privacy, autonomy and confidentiality, fair treatment, protection from discomfort and harm, and obtaining informed written consent was adhered to. Four themes emerged from the data that indicated: the under-utilisation of the full scope of advanced nursing skills, role conflict and overload, organisational structural barriers that delayed viii the implementation and practice of advanced nursing skills, and failure to conceptualise / clarify advanced nursing role that resulted in unrealistic and / or unmet expectations.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / In South Africa, the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) for professional nurses provides a structure for training and career progression in the Public Health Sector. It necessitates the urgency for professional nurses who are working in specialty units at hospitals, to study further in advanced post-graduate nursing sciences programmes, e.g. advanced psychiatric nursing. Professional nurses were not informed about the implications of the OSD for practice, prior to implementation. It was unclear how advanced psychiatric nurses were experiencing their practice in an OSD hospital setting. In this study, the experiences of advanced psychiatric nurses who were practising at an OSD psychiatric public hospital led to the description of guidelines for supporting these nurses during their practice in an OSD ward. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was followed. The study population consisted of advanced psychiatric nurses (N = 50). Purposive sampling was conducted until data saturation was reached. Eight participants were included in the sample. In-depth unstructured individual interviews were conducted with each of these participants. Field notes were kept and voice recordings of all interview sessions were captured. The researcher conducted a pilot study with one participant in order to detect possible flaws that could occur during the data collection process. The data analysis where themes were identified was based on Tesch‟s method of qualitative analysis. A literature control supported the findings of this study. Subsequently, guidelines were described from the findings according to the method of Muller (2001:204-205). Trustworthiness was maintained by using the criteria of Guba‟s model; that is credibility, transferability, confirmability, and dependability. The ethical principles of the right to self-determination, withdrawal from the research study, privacy, autonomy and confidentiality, fair treatment, protection from discomfort and harm, and obtaining informed written consent was adhered to. Four themes emerged from the data that indicated: the under-utilisation of the full scope of advanced nursing skills, role conflict and overload, organisational structural barriers that delayed the implementation and practice of advanced nursing skills, and failure to conceptualise / clarify advanced nursing role that resulted in unrealistic and / or unmet expectations.

Yes / To compare and contrast job descriptions for nursing roles in out-of-hours (OOH) services to obtain a general understanding of what is required for a nurse working in this job. OOH services provide nursing services to patients either through telephone or face to face contact in care centres. Many of these services are newly created giving job opportunities to nurses working in this area. It is vital that nurses know what their role entails but also that patients and other professionals know how OOH nurses function in terms of competence and clinical role. Design: Content analysis of OOH job descriptions. Method: Content analysis of a convenience sample of 16 job descriptions of OOH nurses from 5 OOH care providers across England was undertaken. The findings were narratively synthesised, supported by tabulation. Results: Key role descriptors were examined in terms of: job titles, managerial skills, clinical skills, professional qualifications and previous experience. Content analysis of each OOH job description revealed a lack of consensus in clinical competence and skills required related to job title although there were many similarities in skills across all the roles. Conclusion: This study highlights key differences and some similarities between roles and job titles in OOH nursing but requires a larger study to inform workforce planning. Relevance to clinical practice: OOH nursing is a developing area of practice which requires clarity to ensure patient safety and quality care. What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community? • There is a need for a consensus of opinion for nursing roles in OOH care linked to education, professional regulation and competence, based on expectations linked to particular job titles. • Educational and professional standards are required for different roles, which has implications for the training of OOH practitioners. • Health providers trying to meet the expectations of service users for 24 hour health care globally may invest in OOH nursing to meet demand

Mot bakgrund av utvecklingen av nya former för högre utbildning för sjuksköterskor, där det kliniska expertkunnandet och kompetensen betonas, var syftet med föreliggande systematiska litteraturstudie att beskriva distriktssköterskans och den avancerade specialistsjuksköterskans yrkesroller med fokus på likheter och skillnader mellan dessa två professioner. Kvalitativa och kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar granskades. Slutligen valdes 32 artiklar ut för att ingå i studiens resultat. Författarna kunde visa att både likheter och skillnader förelåg mellan de båda yrkesrollerna. Gemensamt för professionerna var att deras huvudämne är omvårdnad men den avancerade specialistsjuksköterskan fokuserar även mer mot det medicinska området och hon arbetar utifrån ett mer profilerad kompetensområde. Studien bidrar till den vetenskapliga forskningen av distriktssköterskerollen samt lyfter fram morgondagens behov av att utveckla och stärka dagens sjuksköterskeprofession. Förhoppningsvis kan studien öka kunskapen om distriktssköterskan samt ge ett intresse och nyfikenhet på en för Sverige tämligen okänd yrkesroll, den avancerade specialistsjuksköterskan. / Based upon the experience that the development of new forms for advanced education for nurses, where the clinical expert knowledge and the competence accentuates, the aim of this systematic literature review was to describe the professions of the district nurse and the advanced nurse practitioner with focus on similarities and differences between the two professions. Qualitative and quantitative articles were reviewed. Finally 32 articles were selected to be included in the result. The authors could demonstrate both similarities and differences between the two professions. Their common main issue is nursing care but the advanced nurse practitioner put even more focus on the medical area and she is working with a more profiled qualification. The study conduces to the scientific research of the district nurse and emphasizes the future needs of developing the nurse profession. Hopefully this study can raise the knowledge of the district nurse and give an interest and curiosity on the advanced nurse practitioner whom is relative unknown in Sweden.

Bakgrund: Globalt sett är psykisk ohälsa som högst bland unga vuxna kvinnor. Kvinnorna vänder sig till primärvården där de får träffa en distriktssköterska. Personer med psykisk ohälsa upplevs vara utmanande att möta. I samhället finns stigmatisering kring psykisk ohälsa som kan ge ett ogynnsamt liv. Forskning visar att resurs- och kunskapsbrist kring ämnet finns. Syfte: Syftet är att belysa faktorer för återhämtning hos unga vuxna kvinnor med psykisk ohälsa. Metod: Studien baserades på självbiografier framtagna från bibliotekskatalogen Libris. En kvalitativ design med en induktiv ansats användes. Resultatet analyserades med en narrativ tematisk analysmetod med ett manifest förhållningssätt. Resultat: Nio självbiografier med utgångspunkt både nationellt och internationellt representerar resultatet. Faktorer framkom genom sju kategorier; behov av en stödjande person, bemötandets betydelse, samtalets betydelse, känslor som stärker, personlig drivkraft, det egna tankemönstret och att hantera tankar och känslor. Faktorerna för återhämtning ansågs vara individuella. Resultatet speglar behov av hjälp från omgivningen vilket skapar förutsättningar för att kunna genomföra resan mot återhämtning. Slutsats: Unga vuxna kvinnor med psykisk ohälsa är i behov av stöd från omgivningen, ett gott bemötande, samtal med andra, bekräftelse av känslor, att förändra sitt tankemönster och hitta sitt sätt att hantera tankar och känslor. Alla behöver hitta sin egen drivkraft. Distriktssköterskan kan med kännedom om dessa faktorer tillsammans med Tidal Modellens synsätt främja en personcentrerad vård i mötet. / Background: In Sweden one of three suffer from cancer only two of three survive. More women than men suffer from cancer because of genetic and unhealthy determinations. Worry, fear and anxiety are common reactions notified of a cancer diagnosis and during the treatment of cancer. It can affect the persons suffering from the disease and their life. Primary care has a coordinating role and will have more responsibility in the future reagarding cancer care. Due to this, that the district nurse must have increased knowledge about patients with cancer in terms of worry, fear and anxiety.  Aim: The aim was to illuminate women's experiences under treatment of cancer. Method: The study has a qualitative design and the data collection was based on eight autobiographical written by women. The study has been analyzed using a narrative thematic analysis. The analysis was performed on a manifest and a latent level. Results: The eight women's experiences of worry, fear and anxiety under treatment of cancer was described in three themes and nine categories. The themes that emerged were: The constant oscillation between safety and rough distress, The importance of making the most of the time and The changes on personal levels. It appears that the feelings oscillated between loneliness under the treatment of cancer and safeness from loved ones. The women found strategies to handle the side effects under the treatment of cancer that affected their personal levels. The women could find vitality despite suffering from the disease and suffering from life.  Conclusion: Women who were under treatment of cancer experienced anxiety over the treatment's long term effects and the risk of relapses. Loneliness, worrying, anxiety and identity crises were common in the result. District nurses, therefore, need to be conscious about the patients' experiences when interacting and treating cancer patients. Through an ethical approach, equal care can be applied and strengthen the dignity for women suffering from cancer.