Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) are associated with improved patient outcomes and are among the fastest-growing professions in healthcare. However, this growth is accompanied by barriers to the ACNP role. Despite this expansion, limited research has examined these barriers or identified strategies to reduce them in acute care settings. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the obstacles to ACNP practice and to describe approaches to overcoming them. A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Twenty-one pioneering ACNPs participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using the “Sort and Sift, Think and Shift” method. We identified nine themes in the study: four related to barriers and five to solutions. Significant barriers included role confusion, physician resistance, a complex regulatory framework, and a lack of standardized education. Solutions included building physician support and trust, support from professional organizations, developing a strong community of NPs, emphasizing the value of NPs in clinical practice, and ensuring proper credentialing and licensure. As the ACNP role expands, these findings can inform future practices and policies that will facilitate ACNP success and integration. Future research should continue to explore the persistent barriers ACNPs face and identify novel strategies to support further growth.
Disciplines
Critical Care Nursing | Pediatric Nursing
Publication Date
2025
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Kristin Hittle Gigli
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
McNulty, Madeline WD, "Exploring the Barriers to the Implementation of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Roles" (2025). 2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects. 18.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2025/18