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‘I mean, obviously you're using your discretion’: Nurses Use of Discretion in Policy Implementation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2013

Louise Hoyle
Louise Hoyle*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article explores the application of Lipsky's (1980) notion of street-level bureaucracy for nursing staff. This article aims to demonstrate the importance of discretion within the day-to-day work of front-line nursing staff, which is similar to that of other public-sector workers. The findings are from an exploratory case study based within a Scottish inner-city hospital. It specifically focuses on how nurses can be seen to be street-level bureaucrats and how front-line nursing staff interpret policy. Discretion can be seen to be a significant feature within the front-line practice of nursing staff and this may have implications for the implementation of health policy.

Keywords

Discretionhealth policyLipskynursingpolicy implementationstreet-level bureaucracy
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 189 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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