The team; new roles for nurses in general practice--a lesson from America.

IN NORTH AMERICA ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO COUNTERACT THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS BY TRAINING ANCILLARIES: the physician's assistant (P.A.) and the family nurse practitioner (FNP). Though physician assistants may give rise to interpersonal difficulties within practices the concept of the family nurse practitioner has much application in Britain. The possibility of employing family nurse practitioners in British general practice is discussed particularly with regard to the help they might give in diagnosis, in psycho-social counselling and follow-up.