Developing the role of advanced practitioner
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Developing the role of advanced practitioner

Anne McLoughlin Advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), Open access follow up, Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, ANP breast care, Breast Unit, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London
Amanda Shewbridge Nurse consultant breast care, Breast Unit, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London
Rachel Owens Lead nurse, Breast care services, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cheltenham

Anne McLoughlin and colleagues explain how services were reshaped in response to policy and changing patient needs by extending the competencies and skills of clinical nurse specialists

This article explores the development and introduction of the advanced practitioner role in a breast unit, including the competencies and skills identified as essential. The unit forms part of the cancer centre in a large inner London teaching hospital. Each year it takes about 4,000 new referrals and 350 new cancers are diagnosed. Guidelines advocate that all patients with symptomatic breast disease are assessed within two weeks (Department of Health 2007a). This includes those with benign breast disease as well as suspected cancer. As a result of this mandate, it is recognised that breast units face challenges from rising numbers of new referrals.

Cancer Nursing Practice. 11, 2, 14-19. doi: 10.7748/cnp2012.03.11.2.14.c8982

Correspondence

anne.mcloughlin@rmh.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

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