title: Introducing a nurse practitioner: experiences in a rural Alberta family practice clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the experiences of introducing a nurse practitioner (NP) into a rural physicians' clinic in Taber, Alberta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case study, grounded theory qualitative approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rural community-based family practice in Taber, Alberta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty relevant stakeholders, including physicians, office staff, Regional Health Authority health professionals and community members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-ended interviews supplemented with a patient survey, billing and work time records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful introduction of the NP in the Taber clinic relied on: 1) flexibility in the first stages of developing the role; 2) strong connections to key individuals outside the clinic to maintain integration with the community; 3) support and guidance provided by a mentor group who assisted in developing positive working relationships; and 4) cost sharing (matched with benefits) by the clinic and provincial health system for sustainability of the position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NP role in Taber was viewed positively by clinic physicians and other stakeholders because of high patient satisfaction with the NP, billing potential that surpassed salary costs, and increased integration of physician services with RHA initiatives.
authors.affiliation: School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. trish.reay@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reay
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halma
authors.forename: Wesley B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Steed
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008611:Mentors; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D000078329:Workforce