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Ask the expert: Highlight nontraditional nurses

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, September 18, 2007

This week, a reader asks how to recognize nurses in nontraditional roles. Read the response below from our advisor Gina Boring, MSN, RN, ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® project coordinator, Aultman Health Foundation in Canton, OH.

Q: How do you recognize nurses in nontraditional roles?

A: Nurses have accepted many nontraditional roles in practice. These roles are as important to patient care as traditional bedside roles. However, these nurses are often virtually invisible to the majority of institutional staff. Recognition of these nurses, their contributions, and how their jobs have improved care is important.

Nurses in nontraditional roles include nurse informaticists, nurse researchers, quality nurses, infection control nurses, and nurse educators. These nurses have as much of an impact on the image of nursing within an organization as nurses at the bedside.

• Discuss committee meeting minutes containing contributions from nontraditional nurses during nursing council meetings to show appreciation of the nurse's input
• Display interdisciplinary projects led by nurse informaticists in the nursing and organizational newsletter
• Provide a link on the nursing Web site to a page depicting the informaticists or professional development nurses
• Promote in newsletters and departmental pamphlets opportunities to earn continuing education credits organized by staff development nurses for other nurses in the department
• Congratulate a nontraditional nurse serving as a member of the shared governance council during a council meeting 

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