gms | German Medical Science

Background: Advanced nursing practice (ANP) roles were implemented in several countries. Contrary to this, ANP does not exist in Germany. The lack of need for ANP models is due to the oversupply of general Practitioners. Therefore there is a lack of knowledge about the current attitudes of nurses, GPs and patients towards ANP roles in German dementia primary care.

Objectives: To demonstrate the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs), nurses, persons with dementia, and caregiver towards suitable tasks and qualification needs for and the acceptance and impact of advanced nursing roles in German dementia primary care.

Design and methods: A questionnaire was generated that includes specific assessment, prescription, and monitoring tasks of advanced nursing roles in dementia primary care as well as qualification requirements for and the acceptance and the impact of advanced nursing roles. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics

Results: Advanced nursing roles were highly appreciated across all groups. Nurses and GP´s expressed different to tasks like prescriptions authorities and monitoring tasks. Patients and caregivers appreciated other than nurses and GPs a takeover of tasks by nurses. In order to take on different tasks, different qualifications should be required, such as a dementia-specific qualification or an academic degree. Extended roles were rated as beneficial, strengthening the confidence in nursing care and improving the situation.

Conclusion: Results of this analysis revealed an extended consensus among nurses, GPs, and patients towards an extended ANP role.