The development and evaluation of the role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in dementia—an action research project Original Research Article

This action research project developed a new role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in dementia from first principles in response to the needs and requirements of the healthcare professionals already working in the service. In Phase 1 of the project, 42 workers were interviewed to determine their needs, hopes and fears of the role, from which a preliminary job description was constructed. In Phase 2, this role was implemented and continuously modified through regular reflective interviews with the ANP, resulting in some major changes to the original job description. In the final phase, the impact of the role was evaluated through interviews with patients who had used the new service, and questionnaires to the healthcare workers interviewed in Phase 1. The role that emerged from the project was therefore grounded in practice and proved to be an attractive proposition to the local healthcare trust.