Competency Mapping for Neurology Specialist Nurses
Jan 2025: Anne Rowling Clinic nurses have helped develop a set of core competencies for neurology-based specialist nurses.
Neurological conditions represent 10% of the NHS burden in Scotland. These conditions are an important health issue that has had increased in relevance within the ageing population. To tackle the challenges present within services for people with neurological conditions, specialist nurses have been identified to be a key resource in improving patient care, changing services, and implementing Scottish Government initiatives. However, the role of the specialist nurse has been poorly defined, with little standardisation across Scotland.
Judith Newton, MND Nurse Consultant for Scotland and Deputy Director of the Anne Rowling Clinic, and Ethan Stoker, Senior Research Nurse, at the Anne Rowling Clinic have been working with the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, specialist nurses, and experts in neurology to develop a framework for neurology nurse specialists.
The competency framework was developed from the influential ‘Transforming Nursing Midwifery and Health Professions’ Roles: Review of Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner Roles within Scotland (TNR Paper 08)’. This was reviewed alongside several other cornerstones of nursing practice, competence, and governance. The development group used systematic methods to identify 45 sources (from a total of 3759) for analysis for the competency mapping. This included the key validated competencies for specialist nurses for motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy.
The developed competencies were categorised over nine sections that related from areas of clinical practice (such as development of specialist knowledge and the co-ordination of care), to the facilitation of learning, areas of leadership, and engagement in evidence, research and development.
The neurology nurse specialist competency framework has major implications for neurology specialist nurses, and for people with neurological conditions.
The framework will provide neurology nurse specialists with more autonomy and control through nationally consistent job roles, definitions, and related competencies. The framework is planned to link in with the development of sustainable career pathways and education programmes and the development of frameworks for areas of neurology in the absence of a specific framework within that speciality. While there are further avenues to be explored and developed, the competency framework will assist with workforce planning of specialist nurses.
By developing a consistent and sustainable workforce, it is hoped to continue and develop essential neurology services and provide people with neurological conditions the support they need. The Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to undertake this work. The competency framework has been reviewed by the Neurology Service Improvement Forum, the National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions, and NHS Education for Scotland.
Related links
Transforming Nursing Midwifery and Health Professions’ Roles: Review of Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner Roles within Scotland (TNR Paper 08) (opens in your browser)
NHS Education for Scotland (external website)
Scottish Government Health and Social Care (external website)