title: The transformational journey of nurse practitioners in acute-care settings.
abstract: This study explored the nature of the lived experience of being nurse practitioners (NPs) in acute-care settings in Canadian teaching hospitals using hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry guided by van Manen's approach. A total of 26 NPs were interviewed. Data analysis revealed that NPs experienced a transformational journey as they searched for being more, the overarching phenomenon that best characterizes their overall experience, which occurred in the context of being pioneers. Five themes emerged: being called to be more--being more connected, in control, visible, challenged, and able to make more of a difference; being adrift--being disconnected, uncertain, lost, and staying afloat; being an acute-care NP--being competent, confident, comfortable, committed, connected, and content; being pulled to be more--being a wearer of two hats; and being more--being an advanced practitioner. The NP journey reveals the complex, largely invisible experience of being an acute-care NP.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rashotte
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009864:Ontario; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035501:Uncertainty