Challenges and leadership strategies for managers of nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to report on the findings from our research into the recent introduction of nurse practitioners in Alberta, Canada. Through an organizational research perspective, we identify the critical role of health care managers in developing a sustainable nurse practitioner role.


BACKGROUND
Previous literature has focused on nurse practitioners themselves as the key factor in their integration into the health care system. Although they are qualified and organizationally well placed, managers of nurse practitioners have been overlooked as a critical part of implementation strategies.


RESULTS
We interviewed 25 nurse practitioners and seven of their managers. Through our data analysis we identified three major challenges for managers: (1) clarifying the reallocation of tasks; (2) managing altered working relationships within the team; (3) continuing to manage the team in an evolving situation. Associated with these challenges, we propose leadership strategies that managers may find useful as they work through the consequences of introducing the nurse practitioner role. These strategies are: * encourage all team members to sort out 'who does what'; * ensure that task reallocation preserves job motivating properties; * give consideration to how tasks have been allocated when issues identified as 'personal conflict' arise; * pay attention to all perspectives of the working relationships within the team; * facilitate positive relationships between team members; * lead from a 'balcony' perspective; * work with the team to develop goals that are not over focused on the nurse practitioner; * regularly share with other managers the experiences and lessons learned in introducing nurse practitioners.


CONCLUSIONS
For managers to be most effective, they need to address three challenges that are of a managerial, not clinical, nature. By implementing specific leadership strategies, managers of nurse practitioners can facilitate the introduction of the new role and improve its sustainability in health organizations.
Reay
Trish
T
School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. trish.reay@ualberta.ca
Golden-Biddle
Karen
K
Germann
Kathy
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D016294:Models, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires