The author reviews three important documents which concentrate on the extended role of the nurse and relates them to current ideas. The central question on extended roles is whether nurses should define what roles they will undertake or whether others, notably the medical profession, are in a better position to do this

The 'extended role of the nurse’ is a term which has become familiar over the past 15 years. A variety of reports have attempted to define the extended role and give guidance on the ways in which nurses may act. To address the issues, attempts must be made to define what the non-extended, or traditional, role of the nurse is, and explore where the borders between nursing practice and that of other professions should be drawn.