USING THE DELPHI SURVEY TECHNIQUE TO DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL DEFINITION OF NURSING FOR ANALYZING NURSING WORKLOAD

This paper describes the use of the Delphi survey technique to develop a professional definition of nursing which is used as a framework for analysing the contribution made to care by learner nurses prior to th e introduction of Project 2000. A detailed account is provided of the importance of generating a theoretical nursing perspective to structur e the first round of the Delphi survey. The paper goes on to question the validity of developing a consensus about nursing priorities in sub sequent rounds of the Delphi survey and argues instead that priorities about nursing care needs can only be determined in the context of pra ctice.