Knowledge gaps regarding APN roles: what hospital decision-makers tell us

Area of Science:

• Nursing Administration
• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Advanced practice nursing (APN) roles are crucial for enhancing patient and health system outcomes.
• Supportive leadership is essential for the successful implementation and integration of APN roles within healthcare organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate hospital decision-makers' awareness and understanding of APN roles.
• To identify the information needs and preferred communication channels for healthcare leaders regarding APNs.
• To explore barriers and facilitators to APN role implementation from a leadership perspective.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 15 administrators and leaders from two multi-site acute care organizations.
• Data collection focused on participants' practical knowledge, information sources, and perceived knowledge gaps concerning APN roles.
• Analysis of interview data to identify themes related to understanding, information needs, and preferred dissemination strategies.

Main Results:

• Decision-makers' practical knowledge of APN roles was primarily derived from direct experience and internal nursing contacts.
• A significant knowledge gap exists in distinguishing between different APN roles, particularly nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), with a pronounced need for CNS role information.
• Participants emphasized the need for data on the "value-added" benefits of APN roles to justify their implementation and support.

Conclusions:

• Targeted strategies are urgently required to address knowledge deficits among healthcare leaders concerning APN roles.
• Improved understanding and clear communication of APN value propositions are critical for successful implementation and sustainability of these roles.
• Future initiatives should focus on providing accessible, evidence-based information to support leadership in optimizing APN integration into healthcare systems.