Time use of advanced practice nurses in hospitals: A cross-sectional study

To examine the use of time by advanced practice nurses and time use differences according to type of healthcare organization, work experience, and supervisor.

A cross-sectional, observational study.

Non-participant observations were executed in Belgium (October 2015-January 2016). Time use was categorized in domains (patient/family, team, healthcare organization) and roles (clinical expert, educator/coach, change agent/innovator, researcher, leader, collaborator, and ethical decision-making facilitator). Proportional working time in domains and roles was calculated. Chi-squared tests identified differences in time use according to type of healthcare organization, number of years of work experience, and type of hierarchical/functional supervisor.

Participants mainly devoted time to the patient/family domain (30.78%) and the clinical expert role (34.19%). The role of leader and ethical decision-making facilitator covered, respectively, 4.84% and 0.07% of participants' time. Time distribution in domains and roles differed between participants in university and peripheral hospitals.

Activities were executed in all domains and roles, except for the ethical decision-making facilitator role. Further research could uncover barriers and facilitators for role execution, especially about leadership and ethical decision-making.

Advanced practice nurses, supervisors and policymakers could act to optimize advanced practice nurses' scope of practice.