Nurse Practitioner-Led Community Urgent Care Services: Actions to Support Growth.

AIM

To explore the role of nurse practitioners (NPs) in delivering models of acute and urgent care in local communities informing the development of NPs as a solution to providing sustainable and effective healthcare in these settings.

DESIGN

Descriptive qualitative multicase study.

METHODS

The study population comprised NPs, clinic managers and general practitioners from NP-led acute and urgent care clinics across urban and rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Data were gathered from 20 semistructured interviews across seven sites. Data were thematically analysed to identify themes. Clinic-level operational data relating to the governance, team structures, and service delivery models were also collated and content from these data was integrated into the analysis and findings.

RESULTS

Five key themes were identified: meeting the needs of the community; development of NP-led acute care services; NPs as part of the healthcare team; training and support systems and supporting junior NPs and NP candidates.

CONCLUSION

Nurse practitioners have a valuable role to play in delivering acute and urgent care services to local communities. Increasing awareness of the NP role, the prioritisation of community needs and strengthening training and support structures at both a workforce and clinic level were key findings from this research.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Findings from this research guided the development of a set of recommendations which consider community, clinic and wider national perspectives and aim to support the future growth of NP-led community acute/urgent care.

REPORTING METHOD

This research has adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The authors have nothing to report.