Problem: To establish greater understanding into nurse practitioners and their value within healthcare. Hypothesis: Value in healthcare, when used as a tool of healthcare economics, is a marker for effective service recognition. Value cannot be determined without understanding, the lack of descriptive properties about Australian nurse practitioners contributes to the gap in understanding the value of the nurse practitioner service. Design: In this preliminary study we tested a concurrent triangulation design comprising of a three-part on-line questionnaire eliciting participating clinician's views of their nurse practitioner role. Setting: Nurse practitioners from one rural and one metropolitan Local Health District of New South Wales, Australia were surveyed. Thirty-five surveys were distributed to practitioners with an overall response rate of 77.5% (n=27). Results: Data analysis reveals that nurse practitioners primarily perceive they address healthcare access gaps. Most nurse practitioners reported it was easy to maintain their practice whilst reporting they found it difficult to attend education and consequently expand their practice. Nurse practitioners opinions were mixed when reporting the level of support from their employers. Conclusion: Nurse practitioners perceive their roles exist to meet shortfalls in health service delivery. Nurse practitioners identified the need for specialist nurse practitioner education and perceived varying support for their roles. Results qualify a more informed value judgement of the nurse practitioner role.
The emergency nurse practitioner is now a well established and respected member of the healthcare team. Evaluation of the role has focused on patient safety, effectiveness and quality of care outcomes. Comparisons of the role continue to focus on cost, with findings based on incomplete and almost impossible to define, recognition of contribution to service delivery by paralleled practitioners. Currently there is no clear definition as to how nurse practitioners contribute to value in health service delivery. Robust and rigorous research needs to be commissioned taking into consideration the unique hybrid nature of the emergency nurse practitioner role and focusing on the value they contribute to health care delivery.
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