Korean J Adult Nurs.  2022 Feb;34(1):15-26. 10.7475/kjan.2022.34.1.15.

The Role Experience of Clinical Practice Nurses in a University Hospital

• Kim S
• Ryu MJ
• Kim A

• KMID: 2526691
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2022.34.1.15

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to describe clinical practice nurse’s role experience working in a university hospital. Clinical practice nurses are a mix of certified and non-certified nurses. They perform some of the duties of physicians in addition to the work they do as nurses. In the future, such nurses may become advanced practice registered nurses.
Methods
Focus group interviews were conducted with three groups, each consisting of eight participants. The interview lasted two and a half hours per group. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis method.
Results
The analysis yielded four categories and 14 themes. The four categories were “seeking an escape from the repeated routines as a nurse”, “pioneering and developing new roles as a clinical practice nurse”, “confusion about professional identity due to ambiguity in role boundaries”, and “securing oneself as a team member and establishing a role as a clinical practice nurse”.
Conclusion
The scope of advanced practice registered nurses’ roles was meant to have been established in 2020, but this was not achieved. Thus, studying the role experience of clinical practice nurses and their experiences is worthwhile and the results can inform legislation. The results of the study will also help establish a customized curriculum for advanced practice nurses and ultimately improve the quality of nursing services for patients.

Keyword

Qualitative research; Focus group interview; Clinical practice nurse; Nurse’s role