Document Detail


The organizational and performance effects of nurse practitioner roles.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15324437     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Most studies evaluating the roles of Nurse Practitioners have compared the care delivered by individual Nurse Practitioners with that provided by other professionals. These studies should be complemented by research focusing on a higher unit of analysis, namely the organization of the care process for a specific patient group. The most important reason is that Nurse Practitioners are increasingly involved in direct, multiprofessional care in complex health care organizations and networks. In these work settings, their roles may, in both positive and negative ways, lead to changes in the organization of the entire care delivery system. AIM: The aim of this paper is to stimulate awareness and evaluation of these organizational changes and their potential impact on the effectiveness of the care process. APPROACH: A conceptual model based on patterned systems contingency theory is proposed. With the help of this model, attention is drawn to issues at the level of the organization and the effectiveness of the care processes that merit attention when Nurse Practitioner positions are being introduced. These issues are derived from case studies in Dutch hospitals. RESULTS: According to the model, a Nurse Practitioner position will change the work structure of the care process involved. Therefore, the effectiveness of a Nurse Practitioner position will be dependent on the changes realized in the work structure. The resulting structure should fit the task characteristics of the care services demanded by the specific patient group. On the basis of this model and the examples presented, questions for further study are formulated. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse Practitioner roles can only enhance the effectiveness of care processes when embedded in a work structure that is internally consistent and adjusted to the task environment and available skill-mix. A structural contingency framework may be helpful in identifying relevant organizational issues. To determine the effects of Nurse Practitioner roles, cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies are needed.
Authors:
Marjolein A G van Offenbeek; Marrig Knip
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of advanced nursing     Volume:  47     ISSN:  0309-2402     ISO Abbreviation:  J Adv Nurs     Publication Date:  2004 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-08-24     Completed Date:  2004-12-16     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7609811     Medline TA:  J Adv Nurs     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  672-81     Citation Subset:  IM; N    
Affiliation:
Faculty of Management and Organisation, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.a.g.van.offenbeek@bdk.rug.nl
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Clinical Competence / standards*
Humans
Nurse Practitioners / organization & administration*,  standards
Nurse's Role
Quality of Health Care / standards*

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