Long description:

New and expanded roles in nursing are developing worldwide in response to indicators in the community and health care system. Amongst this, there is a strong international trend to develop advanced practice roles for nurses in response to an increasing focus on ambulatory care. In a move to address gaps in health services, expand their roles and address gaps in health services, nurses are establishing private practices in a variety of health settings including the community. This book on self-employed nurses in private practice describes the researcher's journey in developing a theory on private practice nursing. As a journey, it is presented in five major stages that represent significant points of the thesis and eleven chapters that describe episodes of activity. The journey reveals the path undertaken by nurses in changing their career paths and embracing a new direction as they confront challenge and opportunity. The stages guide the reader through the discovery process of assessment, planning (preparation), searching, interpretation and realisation.