Task shifting and health professionals: a European policy analysis

Abstract

Issue There is now a growing interest by public health and health policy leader worldwide in task shifting within health professionals. Nurses represent the largest health workforce. Research has displayed that higher level of nursing competencies leads to better outcomes for patients and for the organization. Advanced and specialistic nursing and prescribing nurses is common in anglophone countries but is still in development in other countries and do not have a stable legislative recognition. Methodology We carry out a review of policy documents, models, and frameworks at European level to identify best practices to implement within the Italian context, with particular attention to nursing task shifting in order to set up Advanced Practice Nursing. Following the EU taxonomy, the analysis was carried out in order to classify the different approaches under the three main areas: enhancement, substitution/delegation and innovation. Results There are a number of reports and policy documents suggesting that task shifting is a way to improve health management, however to a mixed extent. Results show that task shifting has a domino effect. It impacts on the whole organization in terms of social and financial sustainability, quality of care, and general strength of the health systems. According to the results, Task shifting could potentially play a big role in the crucial transformation of health systems worldwide, however, it is still strongly influenced by a medically centered approach. Conclusions In the light of the results, there is an overall lack of clarity and well-developed policy approach by policymakers about task shifting competencies. Recent occurrences in terms of overwhelmed hospitals and health systems in general has clearly displayed the need to a major transformation and update of traditional models and regulatory frameworks of delivery of care and cure. Key messages Task shifting for health professionals is the future. task shifting is crucial in emergency and primary care.