UNCHARTED TERRITORY - MASTERS PREPARATION AS A FOUNDATION FOR NURSE CLINICIAN

The MSc in Clinical Nursing at the University of Liverpool is the first of its kind in the UK in that it is the first at Masters degree level and the first to prepare a bicultural nurse clinician, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner who is able to work in both primary health care and hospital settings. It is suggested that the minimum requirements for safe practice as a Nurse Clinician is formal preparation at Master's degree level. The background to the course development is described giving details of the rationale and role specification. The course is detailed and the curriculum issues which informed the course development are discussed. The goal of the course is to produce a nurse clinician who understands the practices in hospital and primary health care settings and the relationship between the two. In addition the nurse clinician should be able to deliver evidence-based practice; be politically aware and have an understanding of health care policy. A number of concerns are raised by this paper in the hope that it can engender professional debate about the future direction of Nurse Clinicians.