Nursing experts in primary care of chronically ill persons: Insights into an ongoing project

Abstract

Background: The project HandinHand develops and tries out a new interprofessional form of care for chronically ill persons. On referral by the attending doctors, nursing experts visit chronically ill persons older than 60 years on a regular basis. In this framework a clinical supervision takes place and is complemented by a promotion of health and self-management competencies of the patients. According to advanced nursing practice, nursing experts function as consultants and instructors for the target group and their relatives. Methods: This paper describes the field of action and the vocational role of nursing experts. Following the delegation agreement and the development of the project, opportunities and boundaries of this new form of care are discussed. Results: The project HandinHand introduces a new role for nursing experts in the German health care system. Conclusion: This form of cooperation between doctors and nursing experts is a model of good practice. It can be seen as a starting point for the development of new fields of action and roles of advanced nursing practice for academically educated nurses.