How do nurses perceive the role of the TVNS?

Louise Gibson is Senior Lecturer, University of Chester, Cheshire and Marie McAloon is Lecturer Practitioner, NHS Greater Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University Changes within the National Health Service (NHS) structure have resulted in nursing practice becoming increasingly diverse with the emergence of roles such as the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) (Daly and Carnwell, 2003). The tissue viability nurse specialist (TVNS) evolved as a result of the need for expert knowledge to assist in the care of patients with compromised tissue integrity (Flanagan, 1998a). The roles of the CNS have continued to develop as they provide a valuable contribution to patient care (Department of Health [DoH], 2000). However, these changing roles have also resulted in confusion about role title, the level of practice and knowledge, and autonomy. In turn, this has led to ambiguity in the perception of advanced roles between generalist nurses and CNSs (Castledine, 2001). Using focus groups and interviews with nurses in an acute NHS trust in greater Glasgow, this study explores the way in which generalist nurses perceive the role of the TVNS.