Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis
Abstract Background The rising global population of older persons with chronic conditions demands new primary care models. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) can help meet that need. In Switzerland, APNs have only recently been introduced in primary care and little is known about their daily practice....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-01977-y |
| _version_ | 1797945788773433344 |
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| author | Renate Altermatt-von Arb Hansruedi Stoll Annette Kindlimann Dunja Nicca Elke Lauber Sandra Staudacher Monique Sailer Schramm Franziska Vökt Franziska Zúñiga |
| author_facet | Renate Altermatt-von Arb Hansruedi Stoll Annette Kindlimann Dunja Nicca Elke Lauber Sandra Staudacher Monique Sailer Schramm Franziska Vökt Franziska Zúñiga |
| author_sort | Renate Altermatt-von Arb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The rising global population of older persons with chronic conditions demands new primary care models. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) can help meet that need. In Switzerland, APNs have only recently been introduced in primary care and little is known about their daily practice. This study aims to describe APNs’ activities and general roles at four sites with multi-professional primary care practices in the Swiss cantons of Bern and Solothurn. Methods To study the practices of APNs at the study sites, we adopted a social constructivist perspective, lending methods from ethnographic field research. We interviewed, observed and accompanied participants over five months, generating rich data on their daily practices. The analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process. Results The APNs’ daily practices cover three main themes. Their core activities are working with expanded clinical skills and being on-site specialists for patients and their relatives. These practices are surrounded by net activities, i.e., taking care of patients in tandem with the physicians and regular visits in residential long-term care facilities. The outer activity layer consists of cohesive activities, with which APNs anchor and facilitate their role and catalyze further development of the care model. APNs tailor their expanded medical knowledge and nursing practice to maximize the value they provide in patient care. Conclusions This study extends our knowledge of APNs’ daily practice within a Swiss multi-professional primary care practice. Our results indicate competencies that need to be integrated in APN education and point out the high potential of APN integration in such primary care practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:00:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20a2219c4f1f4bfc9f2043d0a41d7eaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:00:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-20a2219c4f1f4bfc9f2043d0a41d7eaf2023-01-22T12:20:38ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532023-01-0124111310.1186/s12875-023-01977-yDaily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysisRenate Altermatt-von Arb0Hansruedi Stoll1Annette Kindlimann2Dunja Nicca3Elke Lauber4Sandra Staudacher5Monique Sailer Schramm6Franziska Vökt7Franziska Zúñiga8Institute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of BaselSpitex Fricktal AGHealth Psychologist FSP, in private practiceInstitute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of BaselDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Bern University HospitalInstitute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of BaselMediZentrum Täuffelen AGMediZentrum Schüpfen AGInstitute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of BaselAbstract Background The rising global population of older persons with chronic conditions demands new primary care models. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) can help meet that need. In Switzerland, APNs have only recently been introduced in primary care and little is known about their daily practice. This study aims to describe APNs’ activities and general roles at four sites with multi-professional primary care practices in the Swiss cantons of Bern and Solothurn. Methods To study the practices of APNs at the study sites, we adopted a social constructivist perspective, lending methods from ethnographic field research. We interviewed, observed and accompanied participants over five months, generating rich data on their daily practices. The analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process. Results The APNs’ daily practices cover three main themes. Their core activities are working with expanded clinical skills and being on-site specialists for patients and their relatives. These practices are surrounded by net activities, i.e., taking care of patients in tandem with the physicians and regular visits in residential long-term care facilities. The outer activity layer consists of cohesive activities, with which APNs anchor and facilitate their role and catalyze further development of the care model. APNs tailor their expanded medical knowledge and nursing practice to maximize the value they provide in patient care. Conclusions This study extends our knowledge of APNs’ daily practice within a Swiss multi-professional primary care practice. Our results indicate competencies that need to be integrated in APN education and point out the high potential of APN integration in such primary care practices.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-01977-yAdvanced practice nursingPrimary careQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Renate Altermatt-von Arb Hansruedi Stoll Annette Kindlimann Dunja Nicca Elke Lauber Sandra Staudacher Monique Sailer Schramm Franziska Vökt Franziska Zúñiga Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis BMC Primary Care Advanced practice nursing Primary care Qualitative research |
| title | Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full | Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis |
| title_fullStr | Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis |
| title_short | Daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi-professional primary care practice in Switzerland: a qualitative analysis |
| title_sort | daily practices of advanced practice nurses within a multi professional primary care practice in switzerland a qualitative analysis |
| topic | Advanced practice nursing Primary care Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-01977-y |
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