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Patient satisfaction with a new nurse practitioner service
M Barr1, D Johnston, D McConnell
1Department of Nursing and Consumer Services Department of Nursing and Consumer Services, County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT42 1QB. michaela.barr@nhs.sbn-i.nhs.uk
Accident and Emergency Nursing
|July 14, 2000
Summary
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in the UK show high patient satisfaction and competence, comparable to physicians in specific tasks like X-ray interpretation. Despite initial resistance, their advanced practice is being evaluated for broader acceptance.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- The Nurse Practitioner (NP) role's development in the UK lags behind the USA.
- Existing studies indicate positive patient satisfaction with NP services.
- NPs have demonstrated competence in areas like X-ray interpretation, yet face interdisciplinary opposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the newly established NP Service at Antrim Hospital, Northern Ireland.
- To assess patient satisfaction with the NP service.
- To examine the competence of NPs in X-ray interpretation and gather subjective assessments from other healthcare disciplines.
Main Methods:
- A patient satisfaction survey was conducted.
- A retrospective audit of X-ray interpretations performed by NPs was carried out.
- Subjective assessments from other healthcare disciplines were collected to evaluate the NP service.
Main Results:
- Previous studies show high patient satisfaction and NP competence in X-ray interpretation.
- Evidence suggests interdisciplinary resistance to the advanced NP role.
- The study at Antrim Hospital aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the NP service.
Conclusions:
- The NP role in the UK, though developing slower, has demonstrated significant benefits in patient satisfaction and clinical competence.
- Addressing interdisciplinary opposition is crucial for the successful integration of NPs.
- Further evaluation of NP services is essential to support their advanced practice.