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.