The Acute and Critical Care Research Group at the School of Health and Medical Sciences, City St George's, University of London welcome Mark Wilson from the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to discuss what advanced practice means within critical care outreach, and how services enable practitioners to fulfil this role, as part of the SHMS research seminar series.
Abstract
What does advanced practice mean within critical care outreach, and how do services enable practitioners to fulfil this role? This presentation explores these questions through a convergent mixed-methods study across two critical care networks in South East England.
Survey responses from 38 clinicians and service leads were combined with findings from two focus groups. Data were integrated using the four-stage Pillar Integration Process: listing, matching, checking and pillar building. Four overarching meta-themes were developed: workforce identity and professional background; career structure and expertise development; education, credentialling and legitimacy; and operationalising advanced practice in outreach.
The findings describe a predominantly nursing workforce with varied educational and credentialling pathways. Participants characterised advanced practice through complex decision-making, managing uncertainty, professional influence and working across organisational boundaries. However, unclear career progression, inconsistent supervision and variable access to protected time constrained development and the delivery of practice across all four pillars: clinical practice, leadership, education and research.
The presentation will explore how integrating quantitative and qualitative findings deepened understanding of the relationship between practitioner capability and organisational support. Discussion will consider the implications for career pathways, recognition of outreach expertise and the infrastructure needed to sustain advanced practice beyond clinical service delivery.
About the Speaker
Mark Wilson is an Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care Outreach, Clinical Lead for Deterioration and Practice Educator at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. He has over 20 years’ experience in critical care outreach, with interests in recognising and responding to deterioration, advanced practice development and workplace education.
Mark is Co Vice Chair of the National Outreach Forum Executive Board and contributes to national work on outreach competencies and professional development. His research interests include how advanced practice is understood, supported and enacted within critical care outreach services.
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