Canadian clinical nurse specialists : understanding their role in policy within a British Columbian context

• Main Author: Rourke, Sarah Nicole
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/43268

Clinical Nurses Specialists (CNSs) are in a unique position to respond to the evolution of health care delivery for specialized populations with complex health care needs. Specifically, it has been suggested that CNSs engage with policy at different levels of health care as one way of advancing the nursing profession, improving patient outcomes, and contributing to the provision of effective, sustainable health care. Nevertheless, little is known in regards to CNSs’ experience of policy within their practice, particularly within a Canadian context. Therefore the purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore CNSs’ experience of policy at the clinical, institutional and system levels of the health care system, to further enhance our understanding of CNSs’ practice in Canada, and more specifically British Columbia. Interpretive description was used as the research method for this study. 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Through an inductive approach to data analysis involving constant comparison four major themes emerged representing the common reality of the participant’s experience: 1) The Perplexities of Policy; 2) CNSs and Policy: A Perfect Match; 3) CNSs’ Influence: Policy as a Vehicle; and 4) Mechanisms that Challenge and Facilitate CNSs’ Policy Work. Findings of this study confirm and extend what is already known about CNSs’ involvement in policy within a Canadian context. These findings have potential application to practice, education, research and more broadly, the health care system.