Carola Wisur-Hokkanen1,2, Ann-Louise Glasberg3, Carita Mäkelä1, Lisbeth Fagerström4,2. 1. Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland. 2. Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland. 3. Novia University of Applied Sciences, Vaasa, Finland. 4. Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Drammen, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evaluation of new advanced practice nursing roles, from different angles, is strongly recommended in the literature. New nurses' experiences of working in an advanced role may highlight problems and/or factors that promote or inhibit a successful implementation of new advanced nursing roles. AIM: To explore advanced practice nurses' experiences of the content of their nursing care and to describe promoting or inhibiting factors for working with a full scope of advanced nursing practice. METHODS: The study design was explorative and descriptive. A total of 24 advanced practice nurses participated in focus group interviews (two were interviewed individually) about the processes, structure and outcome of working as advanced practice nurses. Qualitative manifest content analysis was used for data analysis. FINDINGS: The substance of advanced practice nursing can be described with three main themes: a broader and deeper holistic view of patients' state of health, an independent and responsible manner of working and knowing own limits. Promoting factors were an identity as a nurse with advanced competency, feedback from satisfied patients and fruitful teamwork is a necessity. Inhibiting factors were a lack of organisational understanding for advanced nursing practice, poor planning leads to unsatisfactory advanced practice nursing models and advanced practice nurses' lack of courage in adopting new advanced roles. CONCLUSION: The participants experienced both a personal inner transition and a role transition that were either supported or opposed. Vague or nonexistent definitions and concepts, insufficient knowledge, insufficient support and undefined roles hindered participants' role transition. Two main strategies should be employed. The first is the realisation of more strategic leadership and support from organisations on all management levels, including nursing organisations/unions, while the second is to more realistically prepare future advanced practice nurses for the challenges they will face, through mentorship programmes and continuous further training.
BACKGROUND: Evaluation of new advanced practice nursing roles, from different angles, is strongly recommended in the literature. New nurses' experiences of working in an advanced role may highlight problems and/or factors that promote or inhibit a successful implementation of new advanced nursing roles. AIM: To explore advanced practice nurses' experiences of the content of their nursing care and to describe promoting or inhibiting factors for working with a full scope of advanced nursing practice. METHODS: The study design was explorative and descriptive. A total of 24 advanced practice nurses participated in focus group interviews (two were interviewed individually) about the processes, structure and outcome of working as advanced practice nurses. Qualitative manifest content analysis was used for data analysis. FINDINGS: The substance of advanced practice nursing can be described with three main themes: a broader and deeper holistic view of patients' state of health, an independent and responsible manner of working and knowing own limits. Promoting factors were an identity as a nurse with advanced competency, feedback from satisfied patients and fruitful teamwork is a necessity. Inhibiting factors were a lack of organisational understanding for advanced nursing practice, poor planning leads to unsatisfactory advanced practice nursing models and advanced practice nurses' lack of courage in adopting new advanced roles. CONCLUSION: The participants experienced both a personal inner transition and a role transition that were either supported or opposed. Vague or nonexistent definitions and concepts, insufficient knowledge, insufficient support and undefined roles hindered participants' role transition. Two main strategies should be employed. The first is the realisation of more strategic leadership and support from organisations on all management levels, including nursing organisations/unions, while the second is to more realistically prepare future advanced practice nurses for the challenges they will face, through mentorship programmes and continuous further training.