Table 1.

Characteristics of telephone assessment nurses (N = 265 nurses)

Characteristic	% (n) unless otherwise stated
Sex
Male	10% (27)
Female	90% (238)
Age
Mean (SD)	42 (7.1)
Length of nursing experience
<10 years	9% (24)
10–19 years	41% (108)
20+ years	50% (132)
Employment 3 months before NHS 24
NHS nursing	75% (198)
Emergency department	8% (21)
Intensive care	14% (37)
Other hospital specialty	29% (76)
Community	14% (37)
General Practice	5% (13)
Other	5% (14)
Nursing outside NHS	16% (43)
Working not in nursing	1% (3)
Not employed	2% (5)
Other	6% (16)
Months worked in NHS 24
0–11	18% (48)
12–23	24% (64)
24+	57% (149)
Main type of experience
Hospital	67% (176)
Community	17% (45)
Mixed/Other	16% (43)