Integrating advanced practice nurses in ambulatory primary care: representations and expectations of general practitioners

Introduction: Advanced practice nursing has recently been introduced into the French health care system, eliciting a wide range of reactions from health care professionals. Many studies have focused on the benefits of advanced practice nursing (APN) and the steps to be taken to promote its implementation. Very few, however, have explored the feelings of general practitioners (GPs). The objective of this study was to explore the representations, feelings and expectations of GPs in a territorial professional health community (CPTS) with regard to the APN in ambulatory care.
Method: A qualitative study with an approach inspired by grounded theory was conducted, based on individual or focus group semi-directive interviews with GPs of a CPTS.
Results: 12 GPs were interviewed. The axial analysis allowed the construction and characterisation of two categories: “Being two” and “Defining the job”.
Discussion: The properties located at the intersection of these two categories related in particular to the question of “medical power”.