Review of a nurse consultant’s role: Identifying the contribution made to people living with and beyond cancer

Abstract

Abstract Aim To evaluate a new nurse consultant (NC) role, four specific objectives were set including examining the NC’s contribution to the local implementation over a 30‐month time period of the Recovery Package and assessing changes at a patient/professional/system level. Methods An evaluative process was agreed using Donabedian's (2005) model for measuring the quality of care provided. It focused on the NC’s contribution to the Trust's LWBC agenda including a review of Recovery Package metrics, analysis of the NC template recording activity across different domains, 360‐degree feedback and personal reflections. Results The evaluation demonstrated the NC’s influence on individual patient care with an increase in three of the four Recovery Package metrics to the Trust; improvements in delivery of services and a higher level of participation in activities aimed at raising awareness to LWBC at a regional and national level. Broader influences of this role were also evident.

Keywords

• cancer nursing
• living with and beyond cancer
• nurse consultant
• practice development
• Recovery Package
• reflection