Abstract
The work of a nurse practitioner was compared with that of a general practitioner. Both were equally available to the same patient population over the same period. The nurse practitioner saw a similar age and sex distribution of patients to the doctor but saw different types of problems. More of the patients she saw were for followup of chronic diseases, health advice and screening measures while fewer were acutely ill. The doctor dealt with four times as many patients. The nurse practitioner managed 78% of her consultations without referral to a doctor, and 89% without resorting to prescribed drugs. There was a high level of patient satisfaction with her work and 97% of the patients who saw the nurse would choose to consult her again. The role of the nurse practitioner in our practice has developed differently from a similar post in another setting, thus emphasizing the need for flexibility when defining the role.
Nurse practitioners are a valuable extra resource for the development of new areas of care, rather than a cheaper substitute for a general practitioner.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Burke-Masters B. M. The autonomous nurse practitioner: an answer to a chronic problem of primary care. Lancet. 1986 May 31;1(8492):1266–1266. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)91399-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Diamond M. Ploughing back the profits. Nurs Times. 1986 Apr 23;82(17):44–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greenfield S., Stilwell B., Drury M. Practice nurses: social and occupational characteristics. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1987 Aug;37(301):341–345. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hart J. T. Practice nurses: an underused resource. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Apr 20;290(6476):1162–1163. doi: 10.1136/bmj.290.6476.1162. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Molde S., Diers D. Nurse practitioner research: selected literature review and research agenda. Nurs Res. 1985 Nov-Dec;34(6):362–367. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ramsay J. A., McKenzie J. K., Fish D. G. Physicians and nurse practitioners: do they provide equivalent health care? Am J Public Health. 1982 Jan;72(1):55–57. doi: 10.2105/ajph.72.1.55. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spitzer W. O., Sackett D. L., Sibley J. C., Roberts R. S., Gent M., Kergin D. J., Hackett B. C., Olynich A. The Burlington randomized trial of the nurse practitioner. N Engl J Med. 1974 Jan 31;290(5):251–256. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197401312900506. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spitzer W. O. The nurse practitioner revisited. Slow death of a good idea. N Engl J Med. 1984 Apr 19;310(16):1049–1051. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198404193101610. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stilwell B., Greenfield S., Drury M., Hull F. M. A nurse practitioner in general practice: working style and pattern of consultations. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1987 Apr;37(297):154–157. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stilwell B. Nurses as co-practitioners: threat or promise? Practitioner. 1986 Jun;230(1416):501–503. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stilwell B. Nursing practice. Different expectations. Nurs Times. 1987 Jun 17;83(24):59–61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stilwell B. Prevention and health: the concern of nursing. J R Soc Health. 1985 Feb;105(1):31–34. doi: 10.1177/146642408510500108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]