Perception of the implementation of the nurse practitioner role in a Norwegian out-of-hours primary clinic: An email survey among healthcare professionals and patients

Abstract

In Norway, more patients are visiting the out-of-hours primary clinic than before, and with a higher urgency level. As the first out-of-hours clinic in Norway, the leader at one medium/large clinic wanted to introduce the role of nurse practitioner (NP) for more effective and safer service for patients. The aim of this study was to explore challenges in the current model of care and whether NPs can perform new tasks in an out-of-hours clinic seen from both care providers’ and patients’ perspectives. All general practitioners and registered nurses who took part in out-of-hours shifts and patients classified as urgent priority during one week were invited to participate in a survey. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were used to identify statistically significant differences between groups. Long waiting times in the clinic and lack of patient information during waiting time were identified. General practitioners (GPs) were skeptical about task shifting, while the registered nurses and patients were more positive. All groups agreed that nurse practitioners could perform advanced assessment of patients until a GP took over. Possible new tasks were stitching wounds, referral to X-ray and treating lower urinary tract infections.