Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Sage Publications
Faculty
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School
Clinical Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre
RAS ID
17344
Abstract
Internationally, shortages in the nursing workforce, escalating patient demands, and financial constraints within the health system have led to the growth of unlicensed nursing support workers. Recently, in relation to the largest publicly funded health system (National Health Service), it was reported that extensive substitution of registered nurses with unskilled nursing support workers resulted in inadequate patient care, increased morbidity and mortality rates, and negative nurse outcomes. We argue that it is timely to consider regulation of nursing support workers with their role and scope of practice clearly defined. Further, the addition of these workers in a complementary model of care (rather than substitutive model) should also be explored in future research, in terms of impact on patient and nurse outcomes.
DOI
10.1177/1527154414529337
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of: Duffield C.M., Twigg D.E., Pugh J.D., Evans G., Dimitrelis S., Roche M.A. (2014). The Use of Unregulated Staff: Time for Regulation?. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 15(1-2), 42-48. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications. Available here