The nurse practitioner role in Fiji: results of an impact study

The Nurse Practitioner role, a relatively new role in Fiji, was introduced by the Ministry of Health in order to increase local access to adequate health care for people living in remote areas. Both developed and developing countries have introduced Nurse Practitioner or similar roles in order to provide a cost effective and sustainable health workforce. This paper provides the results of a qualitative, descriptive study undertaken to explore the introduction of this role and its impact on health service delivery in Fiji. It involved semi structured and focus group interviews with nurse practitioners, key stake holders and community members. The findings demonstrate the positive impact of the role and its benefits to people living in the remote areas of Fiji. It also outlines the satisfaction of villagers with Nurse Practitioners and the extensive scope of practice undertaken by these practitioners. Issues related to the introduction of the role are also discussed. Finally, recommendations for future research and practice are offered.