Introducing a nurse practitioner: experiences in a rural Alberta family practice clinic.

摘要: OBJECTIVE To report on the experiences of introducing a nurse practitioner (NP) into rural physicians' clinic in Taber, Alberta. DESIGN Case study, grounded theory qualitative approach. SETTING A community-based family practice PARTICIPANTS Twenty relevant stakeholders, including physicians, office staff, Regional Health Authority health professionals and community members. METHOD Open-ended interviews supplemented with patient survey, billing work time records. MAIN FINDINGS Successful introduction NP Taber relied on: 1) flexibility first stages developing role; 2) strong connections to key individuals outside maintain integration community; 3) support guidance provided by mentor group who assisted positive working relationships; 4) cost sharing (matched benefits) provincial system for sustainability position. CONCLUSIONS The role was viewed positively physicians other stakeholders because high satisfaction NP, potential that surpassed salary costs, increased physician services RHA initiatives.