Advanced nurse practitioner well-being: A 4-year cohort mixed methods study | JoVE Visualize

Area of Science:

Nursing Workforce Research
Advanced Practice Professionals
Occupational Health and Well-being

Background:

The role of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) is crucial in healthcare systems, often filling gaps in medical staffing.
Understanding the long-term well-being, job satisfaction, and motivation of ANPs is essential for workforce stability.
The period studied (2019-2022) encompassed unprecedented challenges within the National Health Service (NHS), including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

To longitudinally assess changes in the well-being, job satisfaction, and motivation of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in the UK over a four-year period.
To identify factors contributing to any observed changes in ANP well-being and job satisfaction.
To provide evidence for policymakers and managers regarding the retention of ANPs within the healthcare workforce.

Main Methods:

A longitudinal cohort study design was employed, surveying the same group of ANPs annually from 2019 to 2022.
Data collection involved a mixed-methods approach, including demographics, contemporary practice issues, NHS staff survey questions, and validated questionnaires.
Survey content was adapted to address the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ANPs.

Main Results:

Annual response rates varied between 40% and 59%, with indications of COVID-19 impact.
While satisfaction with pay and overall well-being scores remained stable, statistically significant reductions in other well-being indicators, job satisfaction, and motivation were observed over the four years.
Qualitative data revealed concerns regarding exhaustion from workload, staffing shortages, patient abuse, and the mental health of colleagues.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates a notable decline in ANP well-being, job satisfaction, and motivation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Difficult working conditions, including high workloads and staffing issues, are significant contributors to this decline.
Urgent interventions are necessary to address these challenges, mitigate burnout, and prevent a potential crisis in nursing workforce retention, particularly given the proximity of many nurses to retirement.