Assessing successful entry into nurse practitioner practice: a literature review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professions
• Advanced Practice Nursing

Background:

• Nurse practitioners (NPs) are integral to healthcare, with numerous studies examining their role performance, cost-effectiveness, and clinical acceptance.
• Understanding successful entry into NP practice is crucial for optimizing educational programs and workforce integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a literature review comparing the successful entry into nurse practitioner practice for graduates from various backgrounds.
• To identify key factors influencing the transition of registered nurses and non-nursing college graduates into NP roles.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of existing research studies was performed.
• Literature was analyzed to identify common themes related to educational background, registered nurse experience, practice socialization, and transition into NP roles.

Main Results:

• Key topical areas identified include educational background, prior registered nurse experience, socialization into practice, and transition challenges.
• The review highlighted a need for more robust assessment measures for evaluating successful entry into NP practice across different graduate cohorts.

Conclusions:

• Successful entry into nurse practitioner practice is influenced by a combination of educational preparation, prior experience, and effective socialization processes.
• Further research is warranted to develop and validate comprehensive assessment tools for evaluating the successful integration of diverse NP graduates into clinical practice.