Adult patients' perceptions of family nurse practitioners as providers of primary health care
Abstract
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are registered nurses who complete advanced
nursing education and training in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic illnesses,
as well as prescribing and monitoring medications, Adults are a majority of the patients
who are seen by FNPs. Although there is research comparing nurse practitioners (NPs)
and physicians (Horrodks, Anderson, & Salisbury, 2002) and investigating psychiatric
patients' perspectives of NPs (Wortans, Happell, & Johnstone, 2006), limited research
exists regarding the perceptions of adult patients toward FNPs. It is important for FNPs
to understand the perceptions of their patients toward them and the type of services they
provide, in order to enhance the quality of care. Since adult patients are a majority who
receive care from FNPs, firsthand information should be gained from them regarding
their perceptions of care by FNPs.
The purpose of this study was to identify and describe adult patients' perceptions
of FNPs as providers of primary health care. The research questions were: (a) What are
adult patients' perceptions of FNPs? and (b) What are adult patients' perceptions of the
services FNPs are able to provide? The theoretical framework for this study was King's
(1981) Interacting Systems Model.
A non-experimental, descriptive design was used for this study. A convenience
sample of 62 adults seeking health care services from two FNPs at a private clinic was
utilized. A modified version of the Marketing Nurse Practitioner Services instrument
developed by Shamansky, Schilling and Holbrook (1985) was utilized. Descriptive
statistics and an independent t-test analysis were used to analyze the data.
Findings indicated that the top three concerns regarding receiving care from an
NP were insurance coverage, thoroughness of the NP and qualifications of the FNP.
Amount of time spent with the patient and the ease of making appointments with the NP
were also considered to be important. A majority of the study participants were aware of
NPs and the services they provide. Continued education regarding NPs and the
services they can provide is significant.
Subject
Patient attitudes
Nurse and patient
Physician and patient
Primary health care
Nurse practitioners
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/34334Description
A Clinical Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner
-- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 2008