Highlights
- •ONN and APN experience a lonely journey during the integration and execution of their functions
- •There is a constant search for partners, (medical) knowledge and acknowledgement from the interprofessional team and patients
- •This search is driven by 3 contextual factors: role ambiguity, team environment and presence/absence of coaching and guidance
- •Knowledge of expert nursing roles in healthcare professionals and healthcare managers is needed to improve role integration
Abstract
Purpose
Exploring the persisting presence of underlying processes, dynamics, experienced barriers
and facilitators of Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) in oncology and Oncology Nurse
Navigators (ONN) during their role integration in an interprofessional team over a
research period of seven years.
Methods
A qualitative study based on the principles of Grounded Theory, in which individual
semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 51 ONN and APN from
11 university and local hospitals in Belgium between 2011-2018. Data were analyzed
to develop a framework that consists of different themes.
Results
ONN and APN experienced a lonely journey during role integration. They were searching
for partners, medical knowledge and acknowledgement from the interprofessional team.
ONN and APN had a watchful attitude and tried to make themselves visible to ensure
they were involved in the team and to preserve their role and responsibilities. An
unclear role description to the interprofessional team, and a lack of coaching and
guidance were influencing factors in the experience of ONN and APN.
Conclusion
ONN and APN in oncology feel difficulties to integrate their role in existing interprofessional
teams. A lack of role clarity, the interprofessional team environment and a desire
for coaching and guidance are influencing factors to implement APN roles. Coaching
and mentorship of novice ONN/APN and their interprofessional team and healthcare managers
are needed to address these issues. These findings could form the basis for a mentorship
program for ONN/APN and their interprofessional team to enhance role integration.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 20, 2022
Accepted:
December 14,
2022
Received in revised form:
December 6,
2022
Received:
September 4,
2022
Identification
Copyright
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