Barriers to Developing the Nurse Practitioner Role In Primary Care--the GP Perspective (original) (raw)
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Health science reports, 2022
BackgroundInternationally many countries have implemented strategies to enhance primary care, to strengthen their health systems to cope with an aging population, the rise of chronic conditions, and increased costs. Primary care has the potential to address these challenges, however, general practitioners are increasingly struggling to meet patient demand resulting from a growing and aging population. Expanding the role of general practice nurses to advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) level has worked internationally and could equally be a solution to the Irish context. However, their current role must first be established as well as their level of interest in becoming an ANP.AimTo explore the role of general practice nurses and their interest in becoming an ANP.DesignA survey design.MethodA purposeful sample of general practice nurses (n = 40) was undertaken between April and June 2019. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V 25.0; IBM).ResultsGeneral practice nurses appear to have an agenda in relation to activities associated with wound care, immunizations, respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Just over half of the respondents were not interested in becoming an ANP. Their perceived challenges associated with the implementation of the role include a lack of support from general practitioners, a lack of resources, insurance issues, and a lack of understanding of the role. Challenges were associated with undertaking further training and their experience of having more work transferred to general practice without concomitant reallocation of resources.ConclusionGeneral practice nurses have extensive clinical experience to deliver major improvements in primary care. Educational opportunities need to be provided for upskilling existing general practice nurses to advanced practice level. Greater understanding of the role and the potential contribution of the role in general practice is required among medical colleagues and the public.
Advanced nurse roles in UK primary care
The Medical journal of Australia, 2006
Nurses increasingly work as substitutes for, or to complement, general practitioners in the care of minor illness and the management of chronic diseases. Available research suggests that nurses can provide as high quality care as GPs in the provision of first contact and ongoing care for unselected patients. Reductions in cost are context dependent and rarely achieved. This is because savings on nurses' salaries are often offset by their lower productivity (due to longer consultations, higher patient recall rates, and increased use of tests and investigations). Gains in efficiency are not achieved when GPs continue to provide the services that have been delegated to nurses, instead of focusing on the services that only doctors can provide. Unintended consequences of extending nursing roles include loss of personal continuity of care for patients and increased difficulties with coordination of care as the multidisciplinary team size increases. Rapid access to care is, however, im...
Nurse practitioners in general practice—An inevitable progression?
British Journal of General Practice
Editorials elsewhere,'4"15 show that health needs assessment is both possible and effective. In this regard, it is perhaps noteworthy that of the five practices that had carried out such assessment in the Nuffield research, the majority had been involved in initiatives led by the local department of public health.
A primary health care team's views of the nurse practitioner role in primary care
Primary Health Care Research and Development, 2004
The study reported here is one part of a wider study, evaluating the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) in primary care This part of the study focussed on the views of the primary health care team (PHCT) regarding their experience of working with two NPs. A project to place Master's prepared nurse practitioners (NP) in general practitioner practices was undertaken with the intention of more fully meeting the needs of practice populations in a deprived inner city area. The roles were supported and funded by the health authority and the placements were intended to be time limited with placement and funding to be reviewed. The project incorporated a planned evaluation of the role and this included a study of consultation patterns, caseload and this particular element, a study of PHCT members' attitudes to and experiences of the role. A purposive sample of 27 staff were interviewed using a partially structured interview format. Each interview lasted around 30 minutes with two researchers undertaking both collection and analysis of the interview data. Subsequently, an additional six staff were also interviewed in an opportunistic manner, at their request. The ndings identi ed two main foci of the NP; as an 'extra pair of hands' and as a colleague undertaking a different, valuable and complementary service to existing staff. The pivotal role of the receptionist in the integration of the new role in to the practice and the acceptance of it by patients was clear. General practitioners (GPs) exhibited paradoxical views, particularly with respect to problems of throughput; the NP having longer appointments and therefore usually undertaking fewer consultations than GPs in any session, leading to perceptions of an expensive and perhaps less effective service in terms of its effect on the workload. Within the same interview however, GPs discarded throughput as an effective measure of patient care and highlighted the many bene ts of NP consultation. This tension between cost and effectiveness would bene t from more effective analysis and evaluation. The members of the PHCT express many different views, often related to their professional priorities, but all appear to support the NP role enthusiastically, considering it a positive step which bene ts the team, patient care and choice.
Primary health care and general practice nurses: What is the nexus?
Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2005
This paper presents the findings from three separate qualitative studies that sought to explore the current and potential role of nurses employed in general medical practices in Australia. General practitioners', practice nurses' and consumers' views and perceptions were gathered from individual and group interviews. The data indicate that practice nurses (PNs) are involved in first level or primary care of individuals and engage in some form of preventive health care. Some PNs have a family/community focus in addition to their focus of care on individuals. Engagement in health promotion was found to be opportunistic rather than planned and focussed on interventions to free individuals from medically defined diseases, the aim being compliance with therapeutic procedures and advice. The broader concept of health promotion, as documented in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion was not pronounced in the PNs' reported practice. Consumers do not articulate confidence in PNs acting autonomously as primary health care practitioners but rather as complementary to general practitioners (GPs), undertaking initial assessment for triage purposes and providing ongoing management, education and support under the GPs' delegation. They would also like them to be family oriented and holistic in their practice; supporting emotional and social needs in the context of their family lives.
Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association, 2016
Objectives Given increased numbers and enhanced responsibilities of Australian general practice nurses, we aimed to delineate appropriate roles for primary health care organisations (PHCOs) to support this workforce.Methods A two-round online Delphi consensus process was undertaken between January and June 2012, informed by literature review and key informant interviews. Participants were purposively selected and included decision makers from government and professional organisations, educators, researchers and clinicians from five Australian states and territoriesResults Of 56 invited respondents, 35 (62%) and 31 (55%) responded to the first and second invitation respectively. Participants reached consensus on five key roles for PHCOs in optimising nursing in general practice: (1) matching workforce size and skills to population needs; (2) facilitating leadership opportunities; (3) providing education and educational access; (4) facilitating integration of general practice with oth...
An investigation of barriers and enablers to advanced nursing roles in Australian general practice
Collegian, 2015
Over the past decade, there has been substantial increase in nurses' roles in primary health care, particularly in general practice settings. Simultaneously, there has been an expansion of advanced roles for nurses across a range of clinical environments. This paper draws upon findings from a study that sought to develop a framework to support development of advanced nursing roles in general practice. It presents findings from one part of that study that explored barriers and facilitators to the development of these roles. Twenty-three key leaders from nursing, general practice and professional organisations participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. A range of factors was identified as key to developing advanced roles in general practice. These included increasing awareness and attractiveness of practice nursing, health reform activities, practice limitations, education and professional development. Understanding complex systems and workforce issues is required to promote active intervention that can facilitate development of advanced nursing roles in Australian general practice.
London Journal of Primary Care
Background: The NHS is undergoing unprecedented change, central to which is policy aimed at integrating health and social care services, resulting in the implementation of new care models. GPs are at the forefront of this change. However, there is lack of academic literature on General Practitioners' perceptions on their role in light of the new models of care proposed by the NHS Five Year Forward View which this small-scale study begins to address. Objectives: This study aims to produce a description of how GP's construct their current and future general practice, professional status and identify within the context of the current NHS transformation agenda. Methods: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and one focus group to gather the perspective of GPs (n = 10) working across three clinical commissioning groups in South East England. Results: While the GPs embraced the principles underpinning the new care models, they were both willing and reluctant to adopt their new roles, struggled with inter-organisational and cultural barriers and their changing professional identity. Conclusion: Multi-professional education in primary and community care could be an effective model to offer support and resources to the development of the clinical and leadership skills GPs will require to respond effectively to the transformation agenda. The emergence of community education provider networks, innovative network organisations designed to support workforce transformation through education and training, can provide the vehicle through which clinical and leadership skills training are sourced and coordinated.
Primary Health Care Research & Development, 2021
Aim: To describe variation in task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to practice assistants/nurses in 34 countries, and to explain differences by analysing associations with characteristics of the GPs, their practices and features of the health care systems. Background: Redistribution of tasks and responsibilities in primary care are driven by changes in demand for care, such as the growing number of patients with chronic conditions, and workforce developments, including staff shortage. The need to manage an expanding range of services has led to adaptations in the skill mix of primary care teams. However, these developments are hampered by barriers between professional domains, which can be rigid as a result of strict regulation, traditional attitudes and lack of trust. Methods: Data were collected between 2011 and 2013 through a cross-sectional survey among approximately 7200 GPs in 34 countries. The dependent variable ‘task shifting’ is measured through a composite score ...