THE ATTITUDE OF GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS TOWARDS PRACTICE NURSES - A PILOT-STUDY

Questionnaires surveying the attitudes of general practioners towards the role of the practice nurse and its potential extension were distributed to a random 12% sample of Hampshire general practitioners. The response rate was 85%. It was found that practice nurses were performing more tasks of greater complexity than had been previously reported. The general practitioners expressed satisfaction with the role of the practice nurse, but had reservations about the evolution of that role towards that of a nurse practitioner. Inadequate resources were the most commonly cited factors limiting the development of practice nursing. In conclusion, it appears that Hampshire general practitioners wish to retain control of the evolution and extension of the role of the practice nurse.