A Study about the Role Expansion of the Nurse Regarding Disease Management with Outpatient

―Focusing Delegation of Authority from the Doctor to the Nurse―

Abstract

Purpose of this study was to examine possibility of the role expansion of the nurse in the disease management with the outpatient. The survey took the form of a questionnaire with the cooperation of 195 patients, 162 nurses and 34 doctors. The 195 patients were randomly selected from a group of 1588 outpatients. Patients felt a necessity for disease management from nurses. Doctors also had positive stances towards relenting authority to nurses. It was suggested that the role expansion of the nurse was possible in the disease management with the outpatient by this. When asked in what way they would like to see more participation on the part of the nurses, the most common answer was receiving medicine from the nurse. Doctors also had positive attitudes about increased participation of medical care on the part of the nurses, but only in cases where the nurses would receive qualifying certificates and to be assessed their competent by the doctor. On the other hand, nurses were not optimistic. They were lacking in confidence and reluctant to take on more responsibilities. Based upon the foregoing, the doctor recognized ability of the nurse regarding clinical practice in some extent, but the nurse understood that the ability of own did not have confidence.

It's been suggested that

1) To establish educational program that helps nurse to develop their ability regarding disease management of the patient

2) To establish authorization system that adopts outsider evaluation