title: We are different: the voices of psychiatric advanced practice nurses on the performance of their roles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have affirmed that psychiatric advanced practice nurses (APNs) perform multifaceted roles. However, only a limited amount of research has been conducted on their perceptions of the performance of their roles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the lived experiences of psychiatric APNs concerning the performance of their roles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from individual semi-structured interviews and analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a hospital cluster in Hong Kong. Thirteen psychiatric APNs were purposively recruited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes were discerned, namely, 'We are different', 'Who am I?', and 'I am who I am'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings can help psychiatric APNs and nurse administrators to better understand the needs of the role-bearers (APNs) and to develop strategies to support the development of advanced psychiatric nursing practices in Hong Kong and worldwide.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Castle Peak Hospital , 15 Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun , New Territories , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yuen-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom, Kowloon , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Zenobia C Y
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: b School of Nursing , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom, Kowloon , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai-Tong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chien
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing
keywords: advanced practice nurse; psychiatric nursing; role development; service development