The perceived impact of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) on promoting evidence-based practice amongst frontline nurses: Findings from a collective case study

摘要

The aim of this study was to explore the perceived impact of advanced practice nurses in\udpromoting evidence-based practice amongst frontline nurses. A collective instrumental case\udstudy was undertaken involving five extended case studies and eighteen short case studies in\uda range of hospital and primary care settings across seven Strategic Health Authorities in\udEngland. The study participants were a purposive sample of twenty-three advanced practice\udnurses selected to represent a range of settings, clinical specialities, organisational\udresponsibilities and ways of working. In-depth interviews were undertaken with the advanced\udpractice nurse and up to ten interviews with health care professionals with whom they\udworked. For the extended case studies, non-participant observation and follow-up interviews\udwere also undertaken. Data analysis drew on the principles of the Framework approach.\udFrom the perspectives of the participants, these advanced practice nurses enhanced the ability\udof frontline nurses to provide evidence-based care. They improved the competence,\udknowledge and skills of frontline nurses and empowered them to deliver care which they\udconsidered to be safer, holistic, more timely and of a higher standard. This is likely to have a\udpositive effect on patient outcomes and on patient experience. However, this impact is\udinherently hard to capture.