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General practitioners' perceptions of the nurse practitioner role: an exploratory study
1Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. bmackay@northland.ac.nz
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|March 27, 2003
Summary
General practitioners (GPs) in Northland view nurse practitioner (NP) roles favorably for nursing tasks but less so for medical ones. More education is needed to clarify the NP role and foster collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Primary Health Care
- Nursing Practice
- General Practice
Background:
- The evolving roles in healthcare necessitate understanding interprofessional perceptions.
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) are increasingly integrated into primary care settings.
- General practitioners' (GPs) views are crucial for successful NP integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore Northland GPs' perceptions of the nurse practitioner (NP) role.
- To identify GPs' knowledge and perceived challenges regarding NPs.
- To assess GPs' experiences with nurses in advanced practice.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 108 GPs in the Northland District Health Board (NDHB).
- Fifty GPs responded, yielding a response rate of 46.3%.
- Purposive sampling ensured representation from the target population.
Main Results:
- GPs favorably viewed NP roles in health teaching, home visiting, and care evaluation.
- GPs expressed less favorability towards NP roles in prescribing, lab ordering, and physical assessment.
- While GPs anticipated patient acceptance, they foresaw challenges with funding and physician acceptance.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced education and dialogue are required for Northland GPs regarding the NP role.
- Clarifying the NP role can reduce uncertainty and role confusion.
- Promoting collaboration between GPs and NPs is essential for effective primary healthcare delivery.