Examining Nurse Practitioner Experiences in Delivering Virtual Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery
• Nursing practice
• Digital health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to virtual care for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Fraser Health Authority (FHA).
• Limited prior education and literature existed on effective virtual care delivery for NPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of NPs in FHA integrating virtual care during the pandemic.
• To identify essential competencies and support systems for successful virtual care implementation in NP practice.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving 41 NPs in urban British Columbia.
• Data collection through electronic surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups.
• Analysis using an interpretive description approach.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in virtual care use, with reported improvements in efficiency (68.3%) and comfort.
• Identified challenges in relational practice, confidence, and workflow, especially in maintaining therapeutic relationships and physical assessments.
• Qualitative themes emphasized needs for targeted education, standardized protocols, and enhanced technological infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Adapting to virtual care presents complexities for NPs.
• Training, policy development, and system-level support are vital for effective virtual care implementation.
• Findings offer insights into required competencies and future strategies for NP virtual care integration in Canada and globally.