The role experience of advanced practice nurses in oncology: An interpretative phenomenological study

Aim(s)To understand the experiences of advanced practice nurses working in cancer care.DesignPhenomenological qualitative study.MethodsThree focus groups were held to collect qualitative data. Participants were recruited through theoretical non-probabilistic sampling of maximum variation, based on 12 profiles. Data saturation was achieved with a final sample of 21 oncology advanced practice nurses who were performing advanced clinical practice roles in the four centers from December 2021 to March 2022. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was performed following Guba and Lincoln's criteria of trustworthiness. The centers' ethics committee approved the study, and all participants gave written informed consent. Data analysis was undertaken with NVivo 12 software.ResultsThree broad themes emerged from the data analysis: the role performed, facilitators and barriers in the development of the role and nurses' lived experience of the role.ConclusionAdvanced practice nurses are aware that they do not perform their role to its full potential, and they describe different facilitators and barriers. Despite the difficulties, they present a positive attitude as well as a capacity for leadership, which has allowed them to consolidate the advanced practice nursing role in unfavourable environments.Implications for the ProfessionThese results will enable institutions to establish strategies at different levels in the implementation and development of advanced practice nursing roles.Reporting MethodReporting complied with COREQ criteria for qualitative research.Patient or Public ContributionsNo patient or public contribution.

Automated summary

The study aimed to understand the experiences of advanced practice nurses working in cancer care through a phenomenological qualitative approach. Three focus groups were conducted to collect data, leading to the emergence of three broad themes related to the role, development barriers and facilitators, and nurses' lived experiences. Despite challenges, the nurses showed positivity and leadership capabilities, allowing them to solidify their roles in unfavorable environments.