Factors influencing the development and implementation of nurse practitioner candidacy programs: A scoping review

Lisa Whitehead; Diane E Twigg; Rebecca Carman; Courtney Glass; Helena Halton; Christine Duffield

doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104133

Factors influencing the development and implementation of nurse practitioner candidacy programs: A scoping review

Int J Nurs Stud. 2022 Jan:125:104133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104133. Epub 2021 Nov 8.

Authors

Lisa Whitehead¹, Diane E Twigg², Rebecca Carman³, Courtney Glass⁴, Helena Halton⁵, Christine Duffield⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: l.whitehead@ecu.edu.au.
² School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: d.twigg@ecu.edu.au.
³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: r.carman@ecu.edu.au.
⁴ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: c.glass@ecu.edu.au.
⁵ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: h.halton@ecu.edu.au.
⁶ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: c.duffield@ecu.edu.au.

PMID: 34837730
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104133

Abstract

Background: To meet the growing needs of a diverse population, it is critical that healthcare service provision is underpinned by innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable services and solutions. The role of the nurse practitioner creates an opportunity to meet the increasing demands of complex care and enables greater access to high quality care. Understanding how best to support nurse practitioner candidates to develop into the nurse practitioner role will create greater opportunities to transform service delivery and improve healthcare outcomes.

Aim: To identify key factors that support and positively impact the implementation of nurse practitioner candidacy programs and candidate experiences.

Methods: A scoping review of research and grey literature was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. For the research literature, eight electronic databases (Embase, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute, PubMed and PsycINFO) were searched followed by a hand search of the reference lists of published systematic reviews and relevant topical papers. A review of national and international grey literature sources was completed.

Findings: Identification of a service gap, developing and promoting a clear role for the nurse practitioner candidate, integration into a multi-disciplinary team with strong mentorship/preceptorship support, continuing professional development, and evaluation of the program were identified as key factors in the research and grey literature.

Conclusion: A well-designed candidacy program can facilitate transition of the candidate into an autonomous, fully independent nurse practitioner. Recommendations to support the implementation of these roles into the clinical setting have been generated. Tweetable abstract: Key to nurse practitioner candidate programs: Identification of a service gap, clear role, integration, mentorship, training and evaluation.

Keywords: Advanced practice nursing; Nurse; Nurse practitioner; Scoping review.

Publication types

Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Nurse Practitioners*
Nurse's Role
Quality of Health Care