Exploring emergency nurse practitioners' perceptions of their role

Area of Science:

• Emergency Nursing
• Healthcare Policy
• Professional Development

Background:

• The emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) role has significantly evolved since the 1980s.
• Socioeconomic factors and policy changes have reshaped emergency department (ED) practices.
• Lack of consensus on ENP education and regulation leads to variations in scope of practice and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ENPs' perspectives on their evolving roles.
• To assess ENPs' views on their educational requirements and the adequacy of their training.
• To understand the challenges and support systems influencing the ENP role.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative phenomenological study design.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with six ENPs.
• Exploration of ENP experiences with role changes, education, and professional development.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified: insufficient protected time for continuing professional development (CPD), the critical role of senior medical support, inconsistent educational preparation, and perceived reasons for role expansion.
• Participants highlighted challenges in finding time for CPD in busy clinical settings.
• Senior medical support was deemed more vital than protected time for advancing ENP roles.

Conclusions:

• The ENP role is established, fostering confidence and collaboration.
• Despite ENPs embracing role changes, educational support remains inconsistent.
• Disparities persist in ENP scope of practice, inter-service role expectations, and required educational preparation.