Background: The Nurse Practitioners (NP) is a position title introduced into the Taiwanese nursing care system in 2006. NP perception of themselves is critical to successful development of the NP position as well as to good coordination with other healthcare team members. Understanding NP self-perception can help determine self- or policy deficiencies and facilitate necessary changes to ameliorate such in order to advance the NP system in Taiwan.
Purpose: This study investigated the self-role perception of NPs in northern Taiwan.
Methods: Researchers used a qualitative research design. Participants comprised ten nurses recruited from a general hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview format and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Two themes that evolved from data analysis included negative and positive self-role perception. Negative self-role perception included feelings of regret, helplessness, frustration and volatility. Positive self-role perception included feelings of enjoying success, reflecting on the present, connecting with nursing, happiness, and self-improvement.
Conclusion: Enhancing clinical, educational, and policy requirements for NPs can promote positive self-role perception. Based on the medical culture in Taiwan, NPs receive clearly defined roles and clear and specific job descriptions to expand their role functions. Continued self-growth and mutual respect among team members are essential to improving professional cooperation and medical care quality.