Lecturer practitioner: a concept analysis

The concept of the lecturer practitioner arose in one health authority in Britain in the late 1980s. Since its inception there, the concept has been widely adopted across the country suggesting that there is a perceived need for this role. However, there is much confusion over what a lecturer practitioner is, since each post is multifaceted, complex and unique. Rodgers' (1993) evolutionary concept analysis is used in an attempt to clarify and to identify those elements that are common to this concept. Through a review of all the available literature on this concept, the attributes, antecedents and consequences are identified and their implications discussed. Rodgers' evolutionary method is described and critiqued throughout the paper and is shown to be a suitable method for clarifying a complex concept.