Patient satisfaction with nurse practitioner-delivered primary healthcare services

To identify levels of satisfaction with nurse practitioner (NP)-delivered primary healthcare services and to determine demographic differences in degrees of general satisfaction reported by patients.

The Nurse Practitioner Satisfaction Survey (NPSS), a 28-item, 5-point, Likert-type survey instrument was developed; data from 300 female and male clients over 18 years of age presenting for primary healthcare visits at the employee health department of a not-for-profit hospital in the Southern United States were analyzed.

Although many studies using a variety of healthcare-related patient satisfaction instruments have demonstrated acceptable patient satisfaction with NPs, few have investigated patient satisfaction with NPs in the outpatient primary care occupational health arena. Overall the population seeking health care was satisfied with NP services. In particular, married or cohabitating subjects reported general satisfaction scores that were statistically significantly higher than those who were single and never married. No other differences were found.

The provision of on-site, employer-sponsored NP primary healthcare services that are perceived as acceptable and satisfactory to employees and families affords significant opportunity and advantage to both employee and employer. Such benefits include enhanced employee and family wellness, facilitated health promotion, enhanced access to care, reduced illness related to time away from work, improved employee productivity, and reduced overall organizational healthcare costs. Knowledge regarding those characteristics contributing to general satisfaction with NP-delivered care serves to facilitate practice pattern changes within the profession that further enhances the visibility, utilization, and acceptability of NPs as primary care providers.