To investigate the concerns and benefits of job sharing a community based Clinical Nurse Consultant role

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify concerns and benefits of job sharing the Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) Youth Health team role and how these impact on job sharing a nursing leadership role.

Design: qualitative descriptive method was used in this study.

Setting: Primary care.

Subjects: The sample comprised of key stakeholders of the Youth Health care team including members of the multidisciplinary team and health care referrers to the Clinical Nurse Consultants as well as the Clinical Nurse Consultants whom share the role.

Main outcome measures: Identification of needs required to assist in developing recommendations for nursing leadership job share models for a changing workforce in healthcare.

Results: The study identified several themes needed to ensure successful job sharing of a leadership role: effective communication, compatibility, support, teamwork, mentoring and flexibility in care provision. Implementing systems that support and encourage these are necessary.

Conclusion: Results suggest that concerns do exist for organisations when staff job share a leadership role. However, several key points can aid in successful job sharing for organisations and nurses as well as improved patient outcomes. These results should help nurses to develop and facilitate increased success for job sharing of leadership roles and contribute to the current need to be flexible in workforce models of nursing.