The status of assistant practitioners in the NHS

This article documents the findings of a stakeholder consultation to explore the perceptions of senior managers on the impact of the assistant practitioner role, scope for further implementation, and to determine the perceived barriers to assistant practitioner use in the workforce. Interviews with directors of nursing or their nominated alternates were undertaken in sixteen provider organisations in two counties in England. Five main themes were identified: identifying and locating the assistant practitioner; implementation of the assistant practitioner role, challenges to implementing the role, education and training, regulation and registration. Organisations whose leaders are committed to implementing the assistant practitioner role and have expertise in leading change will have most success with the implementation and impact of the assistant practitioner role on service delivery. Implications for nursing management: The introduction of the assistant practitioner role within the workforce needs to be undertaken by an organisational wide implementation strategy where the potential contribution of the assistant practitioner within the workforce is clearly identified and valued.