Ordering tests according to agreed set protocols was selected as
an appropriate role by a high proportion of managers and this was
carried out by two thirds of the nurses. The role carried out most
frequently by nurse respondents was ordering tests and investigations
at the request of the medical clinician. When it came to
reviewing results there was a high level of agreement between
managers perspectives of the role and the role carried out by
nurses. Reviewing results and consulting with the clinician was
selected more frequently by both groups compared with independently
interpreting results and explaining them to the patient.