Physician perceptions of nurse practitioners: a replication study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional collaboration
• Physician-nurse practitioner dynamics
• Incentives in healthcare workforce

Background:

• Understanding physician motivations for working with nurse practitioners (NPs) is crucial for optimizing team-based care.
• Previous studies have explored these incentives, but updates are needed to reflect current healthcare landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and update findings on the perceived incentives for physicians collaborating with nurse practitioners (NPs).

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 403 nurse practitioners (NPs).
• NPs then distributed the questionnaires to their collaborating physicians for completion.

Main Results:

• Physicians rated "accessibility to health care" and "quality of care" as the most significant incentives.
• "Physician satisfaction" and "economic incentives" were ranked lower in importance.
• Findings aligned with earlier research but showed less distinction between incentive categories.

Conclusions:

• Physician-NP collaboration appears to be evolving as NPs expand their roles across various healthcare settings.
• The findings suggest that patient-centered outcomes and access to care are primary drivers for physician engagement with NPs.