Nurse practitioner education: learning from students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Advanced Practice Nursing

Background:

• Nurse practitioner (NP) programs are crucial for advancing healthcare.
• Understanding student experiences is vital for program improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the lived experiences of nurse practitioner students at Bournemouth University.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory methodology was employed for data collection and analysis.
• A theoretical model of 'role transition' for NP students was developed.

Main Results:

• The social environment, encompassing workplace and academic settings, significantly impacted NP students' role transition and learning.
• Personal attributes, termed 'pioneering spirit,' were identified as influential in student transformation.

Conclusions:

• Findings necessitate a curriculum review, including delivery methods and teaching resources.
• Eliciting student perspectives is valuable for enhancing current and future NP programs.