The impact of the presence of the first level practitioners in wards and the changing role of the nurse unit managers

Nursing was the last of the health professions to move to tertiary education. This did not occur however without much distress for Nursing Unit Managers who were concerned about their changing role in relation to the arrival of the First Level Practitioners. This exploratory study was conducted over a six month period in 1990 within the Lower Hunter Valley and analyses the perceptions of Nursing Unit Managers, First Level Practitioners and Directors of Nursing of such impact. Specific areas focussed upon in the study were the roles of supervisor, facilitator, teacher and coordinator.