ABSTRACT
Nurse to nurse referral is a process by which nurses can use various areas of expert knowledge within their profession. Nurse to nurse referral is examined here with specific reference to the role of the child psychiatric clinical nurse specialist as consultant to the pediatric nurse practitioner. Current research and Chisholm's guidelines for the nurse consultant role are reviewed. With a focus maintained on the ambulatory care area, the referral and consultation process in such settings is discussed. Parameters for using nurse to nurse referral between pediatric nurse practitioners and child psychiatric clinical specialists are outlined and recommendations given for implementing the process. The conclusion is reached that this type of referral process includes a number of components that must be examined, if it is to continue to develop and flourish.
