title: How nurse practitioners implement their roles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a report of a qualitative health research study examining how nurse practitioners construct and implement their roles.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted to obtain narrative data from nurse practitioners from a variety of clinical backgrounds. Data were analysed utilising the principles of grounded theory. Subjects. Seven nurse practitioners participated in face-to-face interviews and six participated in a focus group discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The central process of 'developing legitimacy and credibility' is achieved through the processes of: 'developing Clinical Practice Guidelines', 'collaborating with the multidisciplinary team', 'communicating', and 'transitioning to practice'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policy makers and those responsible for operationalising nurse practitioner roles need to support the central process of developing legitimacy and credibility vital for successful implementation. First, this involves enabling a supportive and informed process of Clinical Practice Guideline development. Second, key inter-disciplinary relationships need to be identified to facilitate collaboration and sources of mentorship for nurse practitioners. Finally, an identified period of transition will facilitate identification, development and implementation of the above processes.
authors.affiliation: ACT Health, Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia. janedes@tpg.com.au
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Desborough
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024382:Professional Role