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Role understanding of expert nurses in primary and acute care in Germany: A descriptive cross-sectional study
Abstract
Role understanding of expert nurses in primary and acute care in Germany: A descriptive cross-sectional study Abstract. Background: Innovative care concepts are necessary to cope with the increase in complex care situations due to a rising number of older people with chronic diseases and a simultaneous shortage of nursing and medical staff. In the context of the implementation and development of new, innovative nursing roles, an unclear role understanding is considered a barrier. Aim: Description of expert nurses' (EN) role understanding in primary and acute care in Germany. Method: Using questionnaires, EN are asked cross-sectionally about role clarity, competencies and performance as well as perceived autonomy and interprofessional collaboration. Results are analysed descriptively. Results: A total of eight (primary care) and 14 (acute care) EN completed the questionnaires. The majority of EN often/very often perform both the clinical (77.5% and 85.7%, respectively) and the expert role (75% and 78.6%, respectively) and indicate that they can explain their role to patients (75% and 92.9%, respectively) and physicians (87.5% and 90.9%, respectively). Having a high degree of autonomy is more likely to be perceived by EN working in acute care. Conclusion: Although there are similarities in terms of role understanding, EN working in acute care can apparently benefit from already established structures, which is reflected, among other things, in their perceived autonomy.
... This is reflected, for example, in the increasing number of studies and corresponding publications in recent years. While the aspects of role development and role implementation or the views on the tasks and role understanding of academically qualified nurses are primarily examined (Baumgartner et al. 2023;von Dach et al. 2023;Doppelfeld et al. 2023;Laimbacher et al. 2023;Möcking and Hosters 2023;Scheydt and Holzke 2018b;Scheydt et al. 2020;Schlunegger et al. 2023;Schönbächler Marcar and Keller 2022;Seismann-Petersen et al. 2023;Weidling et al. 2023;Zúñiga et al. 2022), only a few cross-sectional studies could be identified that examined the situation of academically qualified nurses (Bergjan et al. 2021;Mertens et al. 2019;Tannen et al. 2017;Wissenschaftsrat 2022) and only a miniscule proportion of the identified studies are from the psychiatric field (Laimbacher et al. 2023;Scheydt and Holzke 2018b;Scheydt et al. 2020;Weidling et al. 2023). The studies identified so far deal with the topics of role development, role implementation and role understanding mainly anecdotally or in the context of (individual) case studies. ...
Introduction
As little clarity exists regarding the roles of academically qualified nurses in Germany it is not certain that nurses who call themselves “nursing experts” actually perform the tasks of a nursing expert or APN. An important aspect of the present “Study on the situation of academically qualified nurses in psychiatric care contexts in Germany” (AkaPP study) was therefore to identify profiles or clusters based on the tasks and activities performed by academically qualified psychiatric nurses in Germany.
Aim
To identify possible clusters of academically qualified psychiatric nurses working in direct care practice, nursing development or nursing research positions in relation to their self‐described tasks and activities.
Method
Data were collected via an online survey between August and November 2020. The target group of the study was academically qualified nurses in Germany working in a psychiatric‐psychosocial healthcare institution. The group of interest for the analysis was the subgroup of nurses in a “direct care and scientific nursing role” (academically qualified nurses working in direct patient care, nursing development or nursing research positions; n = 105 valid cases). A hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out using the Ward method on the basis of the tasks and activities described by the participants in the questionnaire. The identified clusters were described in terms of descriptive statistics against the background of previously defined content characteristics and compared for noticeable differences. Reporting was performed according to the STROBE checklist.
Results
Cluster analysis revealed the following seven clusters of academically prepared nurses: (1) Practice Development and Consultative Expertise, (2) Basic Nursing Practice, (3) Advanced Practice Development and Nursing Research, (4) Specialised and Expanded Psychiatric Nursing Practice, (5) Basic Psychiatric Nursing Practice, (6) Direct Patient Care and Basic Practice Development and (7) Advanced Psychiatric Nursing Practice.
Discussion and Implications for Practice
The clusters identified provide a nuanced understanding of the roles of graduate psychiatric nurses in Germany. This insight helps to tailor staffing structures and training programs to the needs of psychiatric care settings. By delineating distinct role profiles, healthcare institutions and policymakers can optimise resource allocation, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and ultimately improve patient outcomes. This research provides guidance for refining clinical practice models and promoting professional development in psychiatric nursing contexts.
Intensivpflegepersonen erbringen Pflegeleistungen in hochkomplexen Situationen. Eine klare Zuordnung der pflegerischen Handlungskompetenzen von akademisierten und nichtakademisierten Intensivpflegepersonen wie der Advanced Practice Nurse fehlt jedoch, um klare Strukturen schaffen zu können und den herausfordernden Versorgungsprozessen gerecht zu werden.
Aim
To describe psychometric validation of the newly developed Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire.
Design
Cross‐sectional quantitative study.
Methods
The development of the questionnaire followed an adapted version of the seven steps described in the guide by the Association for Medical Education in Europe. A nationwide online survey tested the construct and structural validity and internal consistency using an exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and a Kruskal–Wallis test to compare the hypotheses.
Results
We received 222 questionnaires between January and September 2020. The factor analysis produced a seven‐factor solution as suggested in Hamric's model. However, not all item loadings aligned with the framework's competencies. Cronbach's alpha of factors ranged between .795 and .879. The analysis confirmed the construct validity of the Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire. The tool was able to discriminate the competencies of guidance and coaching, direct clinical practice and leadership across the three advanced practice nurse roles clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or blended role.
Conclusion
A precise assessment of advanced practice nurse tasks is crucial in clinical practice and in research as it may be a basis for further refinement, implementation and evaluation of roles.
Impact
The Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire is the first valid tool to assess tasks according to Hamric's model of competencies independently of the role or the setting. Additionally, it distinguishes the most common advanced practice nurse roles according to the degree of tasks in direct clinical practice and leadership. The tool may be applied in various countries, independent of the degree of implementation and understanding of advanced nursing practice.
Reporting Method
The STARD 2015 guideline was used to report the study.
Patient or Public Contribution
No patient or public contribution.
Background
To improve health care in rural areas, especially for increasing numbers of people with chronic diseases, academically qualified nurses could take over expanded roles to meet the challenges of an ageing society and a decreasing number of General Practitioners (GPs). In the project “HandinHand” (HiH), qualified nurses (Expert nurses, ENs) will carry out home visits to older people with chronic diseases over a period of six months. ENs will prepare a care plan in cooperation with GPs to stabilise the care situation and avoid unplanned hospital admissions and GP visits. The process evaluation aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the implementation process and gather important information on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of ENs as a complementary health care structure in primary care, taking into account several context factors.
Methods
Based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for complex interventions, a logic model was developed and applied as the basis for data collection. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected during the study. A mixed methods approach should allow to gain important insights from participants (e.g. ENs, GPs, patients) involved in the study as well as relevant stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews and surveys will be conducted. Data analysis will be based on the logical model, combining qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data will be analysed inductively-deductively using qualitative thematic framework analysis.
Discussion
The process evaluation will provide guidance and conclusions on further development and transferability. Of particular interest is the expanded role of ENs in primary care, which has barely been implemented in Germany and can be seen as a precursor to the development of an Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) role in primary care.
Die ambulante Gesundheitsversorgung spielt für die Erkennung und Behandlung von Gesundheitsproblemen eine wichtige Rolle. Informationen zur Nutzung der unterschiedlichen Versorgungsangebote und deren Einflussfaktoren werden zur gesundheitspolitischen Steuerung und Sicherstellung einer bedarfsgerechten Versorgung benötigt. Der vorliegende Beitrag enthält aktuelle Daten zur Inanspruchnahme ambulanter Gesundheitsleistungen auf Basis der Studie Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell (GEDA 2019/2020-EHIS), einer bundesweiten Querschnittbefragung der in Deutschland lebenden Wohnbevölkerung und Bestandteil des Gesundheitsmonitorings am Robert Koch-Institut. Rund 80 % der ab 18-jährigen Bevölkerung waren mindestens einmal im Jahr in haus-beziehungsweise allgemeinärztlicher, 60 % in fachärztlicher, 10 % in psychiatrischer oder psychotherapeutischer Behandlung. Weniger als die Hälfte der Anspruchsberechtigten nahm einen Stuhltest in den letzten zwei Jahren, etwas mehr als die Hälfte eine Darmspiegelung innerhalb der letzten zehn Jahre in Anspruch. Rund 80 % der Frauen und 70 % der Männer ließen innerhalb eines Jahres ihren Blutdruck, jeweils rund 60 % Blutfettwerte und Blutzucker kontrollieren. Über 50 % gaben an, in den letzten zwei Wochen ärztlich verordnete Medikamente eingenommen zu haben. Tendenziell nimmt bei den meisten der betrachteten Indikatoren die Inanspruchnahme mit dem Alter zu und ist bei Frauen höher als bei Männern, Ausnahme ist unter anderem die psychiatrische und psychotherapeutische Inanspruchnahme.
Zusammenfassung
Einleitung
Eine sinnvolle Einbindung von Pflegefachpersonen mit Hochschulabschluss in die Versorgungsabläufe wird international häufig mit besseren Behandlungsergebnissen bei den Patient*innen assoziiert. In Deutschland fehlt es derzeit noch an verlässlichen Zahlen über Absolvent*innen und deren Aufgabenfeldern. Ziel dieser Erhebung war daher, durch Wiederholung einer früheren Erhebung erneut den Anteil von Pflegefachpersonen mit Bachelor- oder Masterabschlüssen in der direkten Patient*innenversorgung zu ermitteln.
Methode
In einer Querschnittserhebung wurden die Pflegedirektor*innen der Universitätskliniken und Medizinischen Hochschulen (UK) Deutschlands mittels einer standardisierten Befragung nach der Anzahl der Pflegefachpersonen mit Hochschulabschlüssen (Bachelor, Master und Doktor) gefragt. Weitere Fragen betrafen deren Aufgabengebiete und Integrationsmaßnahmen. Die Daten wurden mittels deskriptiver Statistik ausgewertet.
Ergebnisse
Insgesamt konnten n = 29 gültige Fragebögen aus 35 UK in die Analyse eingeschlossen werden, daraus ergibt sich eine Rücklaufquote von 82,85%. Für insgesamt 18 UK konnte eine Steigerung der hochschulisch qualifizierten Pflegefachpersonen um n = 786, von 2015 (n = 593) auf 2018 (n = 1379) erreicht werden. Der Anteil an Pflegefachpersonen mit Hochschulabschluss in den teilnehmenden UK liegt bei 3,16% (SD = 1,66; Min - Max = 1,09 - 6,69; Q1 - Q3 = 1,49 - 4,04; 95% KI = 2,30 – 3,95). In der direkten Versorgung beträgt der Anteil 2,11% (SD = 1,40; Min – Max = 0,47 - 5,42; Q1 – Q3 = 0,87 – 3,16; 95% KI 1,36 - 2,76). Die Aufgabenschwerpunkte liegen im Bereich der Regelversorgung und Patient*innenedukation (Bachelorabsolvent*innen), der evidenzbasierten Pflegepraxisentwicklung (Masterabsolvent*innen) und Forschung (promovierte Absolvent*innen).
Diskussion
Im Vergleich zu 2015 ist der Anteil hochschulisch qualifizierter Pflegefachpersonen zwar angestiegen, doch er liegt immer noch auf einem sehr niedrigen Niveau. Die Hochschulabsolvent*innen nehmen versorgungs- und entwicklungsrelevante Aufgaben wahr, doch besteht hinsichtlich ihrer Aufgabengebiete Bedarf an kompetenzorientierter Differenzierung.
Background:
Primary care is facing a multimorbid, ageing population and a lack of general practitioners (GPs), especially in rural areas. In many countries, advanced practice nurses (APNs) may be a potential solution for these challenges. Switzerland, however, is in the early stages of APN role development with a handful of pilot projects that are unresearched. Our aim was to explore the experiences of APNs and GPs involved in introducing the APN role to Swiss primary care.
Methods:
We organised two focus group discussions with APNs (n = 9) engaged in primary care across German-speaking Switzerland and individual interviews with APNs (n = 2) and GPs (n = 4) from two pilot projects in remote areas. Data analysis followed an exploratory hybrid approach of thematic analysis and was guided by the PEPPA Plus framework.
Results:
The analysis resulted in five main themes: The participants considered themselves pioneers developing a new model in primary care, seeking to shape and improve future health care ((1) pioneering spirit). Both nurses and doctors agreed on the additional value of the APN role, a role seen as having more time for and a different approach to patient care, bringing higher quality of care and flexibility to the practice ((2) added value from the APN role). Participants also emphasized the importance of asking for advice when unsure about diagnostic steps or appropriate treatment ((3) awareness of limited knowledge and skills). The main barriers identified included the impression that Swiss doctors have little knowledge about nurses in advanced roles ((4) GP's lack of knowledge regarding the APN role), and that further regulations will be important to foster role clarity and accountability ((5) political and legal obstacles in introducing the APN role).
Conclusions:
The early phase of introducing APNs to Swiss primary care is characterised by heterogeneous, small-scale projects of pioneering GPs and APNs recognising the added value and limits of APNs despite a lack of governance and knowledge regarding the APN role among GPs. Experiences gained from ongoing projects provide elements of good practice for political discussions and regulations.
ABSTRACT
Background
Workload and workforce issues in primary care are key drivers for the growing international trend to expand nursing roles. Advanced nurse practitioners are increasingly being appointed to take on activities and roles traditionally carried out by doctors. Successful implementation of any new role within multidisciplinary teams is complex and time-consuming, therefore it is important to understand the factors that may hinder or support implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner role in primary care settings.
Objectives
To identify, appraise and synthesise the barriers and facilitators that impact implementation of advanced practitioner roles in primary care settings.
Methods
A scoping review conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. Eight databases (Cochrane Library, Health Business Elite, Kings Fund Library, HMIC, Medline, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies published in English between 2002 and 2017. Study selection and methodological assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. A pre-piloted extraction form was used to extract the following data: study characteristics, context, participants and information describing the advanced nurse practitioner role. Deductive coding for barriers and facilitators was undertaken using a modified Yorkshire Contributory Framework. We used inductive coding for barriers or facilitators that could not be classified using pre-defined codes. Disagreements were addressed through discussion. Descriptive data was tabulated within evidence tables, and key findings for barriers and facilitators were brought together within a narrative synthesis based on the volume of evidence.
Findings
Systematic searching identified 5976 potential records, 2852 abstracts were screened, and 122 full texts were retrieved. Fifty-four studies (reported across 76 publications) met the selection criteria. Half of the studies (n=27) were conducted in North America (n=27), and 25/54 employed a qualitative design. The advanced nurse practitioner role was diverse, working across the lifespan and with different patient groups. However, there was little agreement about the level of autonomy, or what constituted everyday activities. Team factors were the most frequently reported barrier and facilitator. Individual factors, lines of responsibility and ‘other’ factors (i.e. funding), were also frequently reported barriers. Facilitators included individual factors, supervision and leadership and ‘other’ factors (i.e. funding, planning for role integration).
Conclusion
Building collaborative relationships with other healthcare professionals and negotiating the role are critical to the success of the implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner role. Team consensus about the role and how it integrates into the wider team is also essential.
Keywords
Advanced Practice Nursing
Barriers
Facilitators
Implementation
Primary Care
Background:
Current and expected problems such as ageing, increased prevalence of chronic conditions and multi-morbidity, increased emphasis on healthy lifestyle and prevention, and substitution for care from hospitals by care provided in the community encourage countries worldwide to develop new models of primary care delivery. Owing to the fact that many tasks do not necessarily require the knowledge and skills of a doctor, interest in using nurses to expand the capacity of the primary care workforce is increasing. Substitution of nurses for doctors is one strategy used to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care. This is the first update of the Cochrane review published in 2005.
Objectives:
Our aim was to investigate the impact of nurses working as substitutes for primary care doctors on:• patient outcomes;• processes of care; and• utilisation, including volume and cost.
Search methods:
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), part of the Cochrane Library (www.cochranelibrary.com), as well as MEDLINE, Ovid, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and EbscoHost (searched 20.01.2015). We searched for grey literature in the Grey Literature Report and OpenGrey (21.02.2017), and we searched the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov trial registries (21.02.2017). We did a cited reference search for relevant studies (searched 27.01 2015) and checked reference lists of all included studies. We reran slightly revised strategies, limited to publication years between 2015 and 2017, for CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and CINAHL, in March 2017, and we have added one trial to 'Studies awaiting classification'.
Selection criteria:
Randomised trials evaluating the outcomes of nurses working as substitutes for doctors. The review is limited to primary healthcare services that provide first contact and ongoing care for patients with all types of health problems, excluding mental health problems. Studies which evaluated nurses supplementing the work of primary care doctors were excluded.
Data collection and analysis:
Two review authors independently carried out data extraction and assessment of risk of bias of included studies. When feasible, we combined study results and determined an overall estimate of the effect. We evaluated other outcomes by completing a structured synthesis.
Main results:
For this review, we identified 18 randomised trials evaluating the impact of nurses working as substitutes for doctors. One study was conducted in a middle-income country, and all other studies in high-income countries. The nursing level was often unclear or varied between and even within studies. The studies looked at nurses involved in first contact care (including urgent care), ongoing care for physical complaints, and follow-up of patients with a particular chronic conditions such as diabetes. In many of the studies, nurses could get additional support or advice from a doctor. Nurse-doctor substitution for preventive services and health education in primary care has been less well studied.Study findings suggest that care delivered by nurses, compared to care delivered by doctors, probably generates similar or better health outcomes for a broad range of patient conditions (low- or moderate-certainty evidence):• Nurse-led primary care may lead to slightly fewer deaths among certain groups of patients, compared to doctor-led care. However, the results vary and it is possible that nurse-led primary care makes little or no difference to the number of deaths (low-certainty evidence).• Blood pressure outcomes are probably slightly improved in nurse-led primary care. Other clinical or health status outcomes are probably similar (moderate-certainty evidence).• Patient satisfaction is probably slightly higher in nurse-led primary care (moderate-certainty evidence). Quality of life may be slightly higher (low-certainty evidence).We are uncertain of the effects of nurse-led care on process of care because the certainty of this evidence was assessed as very low.The effect of nurse-led care on utilisation of care is mixed and depends on the type of outcome. Consultations are probably longer in nurse-led primary care (moderate-certainty evidence), and numbers of attended return visits are slightly higher for nurses than for doctors (high-certainty evidence). We found little or no difference between nurses and doctors in the number of prescriptions and attendance at accident and emergency units (high-certainty evidence). There may be little or no difference in the number of tests and investigations, hospital referrals and hospital admissions between nurses and doctors (low-certainty evidence).We are uncertain of the effects of nurse-led care on the costs of care because the certainty of this evidence was assessed as very low.
Authors' conclusions:
This review shows that for some ongoing and urgent physical complaints and for chronic conditions, trained nurses, such as nurse practitioners, practice nurses, and registered nurses, probably provide equal or possibly even better quality of care compared to primary care doctors, and probably achieve equal or better health outcomes for patients. Nurses probably achieve higher levels of patient satisfaction, compared to primary care doctors. Furthermore, consultation length is probably longer when nurses deliver care and the frequency of attended return visits is probably slightly higher for nurses, compared to doctors. Other utilisation outcomes are probably the same. The effects of nurse-led care on process of care and the costs of care are uncertain, and we also cannot ascertain what level of nursing education leads to the best outcomes when nurses are substituted for doctors.
Purpose:
Factors that predict the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with complex chronic diseases have not been investigated to date. Determining the impact of disease on daily activities is a factor that is particularly important with this group of people. This study examined the influence of a range of predictors (including the impact of chronic diseases on daily activities), on HRQoL in patients with complex chronic diseases over a 12-month period.
Method:
A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with outcomes measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months post-baseline. Adults attending an Australian community-based rehabilitation service were included. HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 and corresponding preference-based health utility. Predictor variables included sociodemographic factors, disease factors (e.g. impact of diseases on daily activities), intervention factors, psychosocial factors and HRQoL components that were not included as the dependent variable. Linear mixed-effects regression was used to examine the relationship between predictor variables and HRQoL.
Results:
Data from 351 participants were included. The impact of chronic disease on daily activities was the most frequent significant predictor of HRQoL outcomes. Other significant predictors included the impact of chronic back pain or sciatica on daily activities, the number of comorbidities, general health functioning and psychological distress.
Conclusion:
Models of health care for people with complex chronic disease may be enhanced by greater focus on patients' daily activities during assessment and intervention delivery. The range of significant predictors highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary team for managing complex chronic disease or targeted intervention strategies.
Role clarity is a crucial issue for effective interprofessional collaboration. Poorly defined roles can become a source of conflict in clinical teams and reduce the effectiveness of care and services delivered to the population. Our objective in this paper is to outline processes for clarifying professional roles when a new role is introduced into clinical teams, that of the primary healthcare nurse practitioner (PHCNP). To support our empirical analysis we used the Canadian National Interprofessional Competency Framework, which defines the essential components for role clarification among professionals. A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted on six cases in which the PHCNP role was introduced into primary care teams. Data collection included 34 semistructured interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of the PHCNP role. Our results revealed that the best performing primary care teams were those that used a variety of organizational and individual strategies to carry out role clarification processes. From this study, we conclude that role clarification is both an organizational process to be developed and a competency that each member of the primary care team must mobilize to ensure effective interprofessional collaboration.
Although advanced practice nurses (APNs) have existed in Canada for over 40 years and there is abundant evidence of their safety and effectiveness, their full integration into our healthcare system has not been fully realized. For this paper, we drew on pertinent sections of a scoping review of the Canadian literature from 1990 onward and interviews or focus groups with 81 key informants conducted for a decision support synthesis on advanced practice nursing to identify the factors that enable role development and implementation across the three types of APNs: clinical nurse specialists, primary healthcare nurse practitioners and acute care nurse practitioners. For development of advanced practice nursing roles, many of the enabling factors occur at the federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) level. They include utilization of a pan-Canadian approach, provision of high-quality education, and development of appropriate legislative and regulatory mechanisms. Systematic planning to guide role development is needed at both the F/P/T and organizational levels. For implementation of advanced practice nursing roles, some of the enabling factors require action at the F/P/T level. They include recruitment and retention, role funding, intra-professional relations between clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners, public awareness, national leadership support and role evaluation. Factors requiring action at the level of the organization include role clarity, healthcare setting support, implementation of all role components and continuing education. Finally, inter-professional relations require action at both the F/P/T and organizational levels. A multidisciplinary roundtable formulated policy and practice recommendations based on the synthesis findings, and these are summarized in this paper.
Aims and objectives:
To identify and examine existing research exploring how people with dementia and nurses view acute hospital care.
Background:
Admission to hospital can be traumatic for a person with dementia due to an inability to cope with unfamiliar environments, faces and routines. Adverse behavioural and health outcomes can result. Dementia adds complexity to patient care. Inability to deliver appropriate care is a source of stress and frustration for nurses.
Methods:
Integrative review of the literature 2005-2015 reporting the experience of people with dementia and nurses caring for them in an acute hospital setting (n= 24).
Results:
Hospitals focus on acute medical care; consequently people with dementia are considered low priority and a disruption to normal routine. Risk management often takes priority over patient dignity. People with dementia are stigmatised. Families have significant roles to play in the care of a person with dementia in hospital but are often excluded. Nurses struggle to complete even basic patient care, and focus on tasks often at the expense of specific patient needs. Support for nurses is lacking. The job satisfaction of nurses caring for people with dementia is poor.
Conclusions:
Nurses require improved education and support to care for patients with dementia. Hospitals must focus on genuine caring concurrently with rapid discharge requirements, risk mitigation and fiscal restraint. More research is needed to inform the development of appropriate care for people with dementia in hospitals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The purpose of this integrative review was to analyze the current state of the science related to the novice nurse practitioner (NP) transition into primary care. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the databases Pubmed, MEDLINE, Ovid, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) with the terms nurse practitioner, role, and transition to search articles published after 1997. Three major themes emerged from the literature related to the novice NP transition into primary care. These themes were categorized as “experiencing role ambiguity,” “quality of professional and interpersonal relationships,” and “facing intrinsic and extrinsic obstacles.” Strategies to reduce role ambiguity, improve the quality of professional relationships, and mitigate extrinsic obstacles faced by novice NPs may improve their transition into the primary care workforce. Educational institutions, employers, and novice NPs all have a stake in the successful transition from student to primary care practitioner and should be engaged in developing effective NP transition-to-practice programs.
Purpose:
To address the gap in evidence-based information required to support the development of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles in Switzerland, stakeholders identified the need for guidance to generate strategic evaluation data. This article describes an evaluation framework developed to inform decisions about the effective utilization of APN roles across the country.
Approach:
A participatory approach was used by an international group of stakeholders. Published literature and an evidenced-based framework for introducing APN roles were analyzed and applied to define the purpose, target audiences, and essential elements of the evaluation framework. Through subsequent meetings and review by an expert panel, the framework was developed and refined.
Findings:
A framework to evaluate different types of APN roles as they evolve to meet dynamic population health, practice setting, and health system needs was created. It includes a matrix of key concepts to guide evaluations across three stages of APN role development: introduction, implementation, and long-term sustainability. For each stage, evaluation objectives and questions examining APN role structures, processes, and outcomes from different perspectives (e.g., patients, providers, managers, policy-makers) were identified.
Conclusions:
A practical, robust framework based on well-established evaluation concepts and current understanding of APN roles can be used to conduct systematic evaluations.
Clinical relevance:
The evaluation framework is sufficiently generic to allow application in developed countries globally, both for evaluation as well as research purposes.
AimTo evaluate the impact of implementing Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles on patients, staff members and organizational outcomes in an acute hospital.Background
The worldwide development of advanced practice roles in nursing has been influenced by increasing demands and costs of health care. A key issue in the UK has been the reduction in hours junior doctors can work.While there is evidence these roles can have a positive impact in a variety of clinical specialties, little is known about the impact advanced nurses substituting for junior doctors can have on patients, staff members and organizational outcomes in general hospital care settings.DesignCollective case study.MethodsA collective case study in a district general hospital in England was undertaken in 2011–2012. Interviews with strategic stakeholders (n = 13) were followed by three individual case studies. Each case study represented the clinical area in which the roles had been introduced: medicine, surgery and orthopaedics and included interviews (n = 32) and non-participant observation of practice.FindingsThe ANPs had a positive impact on patient experience, outcomes and safety. They improved staff knowledge, skills and competence and enhanced quality of working life, distribution of workload and team-working. ANPs contributed to the achievement of organizational priorities and targets and development of policy.ConclusionANPs undertaking duties traditionally performed by junior doctors in acute hospital settings can have a positive impact on a range of indicators relating to patients, staff members and organizational outcomes which are highly relevant to nursing.
A literature search was carried out to summarize the existing scientific evidence concerning occurrence, causes, and consequences of multimorbidity (the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases) in the elderly as well as models and quality of care of persons with multimorbidity. According to pre-established inclusion criteria, and using different search strategies, 41 articles were included (four of these were methodological papers only). Prevalence of multimorbidity in older persons ranges from 55 to 98%. In cross-sectional studies, older age, female gender, and low socioeconomic status are factors associated with multimorbidity, confirmed by longitudinal studies as well. Major consequences of multimorbidity are disability and functional decline, poor quality of life, and high health care costs. Controversial results were found on multimorbidity and mortality risk. Methodological issues in evaluating multimorbidity are discussed as well as future research needs, especially concerning etiological factors, combinations and clustering of chronic diseases, and care models for persons affected by multiple disorders. New insights in this field can lead to the identification of preventive strategies and better treatment of multimorbid patients.
To review the literature about the Canadian experience with nurse practitioner role implementation and identify influencing factors.
Although nurse practitioners have been in existence for more than 40 years, their integration into healthcare systems has been challenging. While frameworks exist to guide implementation of these roles, clear identification of factors influencing role implementation may inform best practices. Given that Canada has witnessed considerable growth in nurse practitioner positions in the past decade, an exploration of its experience with role implementation is timely.
A review of Canadian literature from 1997 to 2010 was conducted. Electronic databases including CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Source: Nursing Academic Edition, Medline, Social Science Index, PubMed, Web of Science and PsychINFO and government and professional organization websites were searched.
An integrative review was performed guided by Whittemore and Knafl's method.
Ten published studies and two provincial reports were included. Numerous facilitators and barriers to implementation were identified and analysed for themes. Three concepts influencing implementation emerged: involvement, acceptance and intention. Involvement is defined as stakeholders actively participating in the early stages of implementation. Acceptance is recognition and willingness to work with nurse practitioner. Intention relates to how the role is defined.
This integrative review revealed three factors that influence nurse practitioner role implementation in Canada: involvement, acceptance and intention. Strategies to enhance these factors may inform best practice role implementation processes.
This paper describes a participatory, evidence-based, patient-focused process for advanced practice nursing (APN) role development, implementation, and evaluation (PEPPA framework).
Despite the growing demand for advanced practice nurses, there are limited data to guide the successful implementation and optimal utilization of these roles. The participatory, evidence-based, patient-focused process, for guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of advanced practice nursing (PEPPA) framework is an adaptation of two existing frameworks and is designed to overcome role implementation barriers through knowledge and understanding of APN roles and environments. The principles of participatory action research directed the construction of the new framework.
The process for implementing and evaluating APN roles is as complex and dynamic as the roles themselves. The PEPPA framework is shaped by the underlying principles and values consistent with APN, namely, a focus on addressing patient health needs through the delivery of coordinated care and collaborative relationships among health care providers and systems. Engaging environmental stakeholders as participants in the process provides opportunity to identify the need and shared goals for a clearly defined APN role. The process promotes increased understanding of APN roles and optimal use of the broad range of APN knowledge, skills, and expertise in all role domains and scope of practice. The steps for planning and implementation are designed to create environments to support APN role development and long-term integration within health care systems. The goal-directed and outcome-based process also provides the basis for prospective ongoing evaluation and improvement of both the role and delivery of health care services.
Direct Clinical Practice
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