A review of the evolution and challenges in nursing role development

Nursing role development was created to response to the challenge of balancing supply and demand in healthcare system. The aim of this study is to examine the evolution in nursing role development and subsequent experience in dealing with the challenges in the world. In this study, electronic resources were searched till to 2015 by English keywords contain 'Role development' and 'Nursing role' in combination and individually. Data were extracted from articles that were more relevant. This study found two approaches regarding nursing role development. First, the role extension that relates to progressing in the field of medicine and the traditional functions of physicians, and the role expansion that implies any enlargement of the nurse's role within the boundaries of nursing education, theory and practice. In many countries that seek to expansion/extension of the nurses’ role. However, despite the shortage that exist in nursing and also because of the increased workload of nurses, caused employment of workers with lower skills and in result multiple significantly challenges have been experienced. In our country, nursing role development has not considerable progress. The current situation does not provide enough infrastructures such as the licensing professional qualification and data-based decision-making from monitoring the effect of changes on the quality of care. Therefore, decision-making about the implementation of any changes in the nursing profession and its role development, must be accomplished very prudential with regard to all aspects of the professional Ethics.