The genesis of a phenomenological approach to advanced nursing practice

This paper describes how participation, as a co-investigator, in a phenomenological study of the high-risk perinatal experience led to the development of a new approach to advanced nursing practice for a maternity clinical nurse specialist. Prior to implementation of the study, nursing was practised based in a structured, conceptual framework, but, as a result of conducting interviews with study subjects, analysing data with a research team and gaining a better understanding of the high-risk perinatal experience, a new style of nursing practice based in a phenomenological approach emerged, which permeated all aspects of clinical nurse specialist practice.