The role of the nurse practitioner in the gastroenterology setting

The purpose if this qualitative study was to explore the role of a nurse practitioner who is currently functioning in the specialized setting of gastroenterology. Naturalistic inquiry was the research methodology used. This study was guided by the American Nurses Association Social Policy Statement (American Nurses Association, 1995) and posed the question: What is the role of the nurse practitioner in the gastroenterology setting? Data collection involved researcher-designed open-ended interview methods and content analysis. The results of this study contribute information regarding the role of a nurse practitioner in the specialized setting of a gastroenterology practice.