Viewing Nurse Practitioners’ Perceptions of Patient Care Through the Lens of Enablement

Abstract

Research conducted in primary health care (PHC) shows the value of patient enablement. Although nurse practitioners (NPs) are increasingly playing a role in PHC, limited research exploring their contribution to enabling patients exists. This article describes a qualitative descriptive study in which enablement was used to explore PHC NPs’ perceptions of the care they provide to patients. Analysis of the focus group data identified 3 primary themes: patient centeredness and bespoke care; reciprocity, trust, and acceptance; and knowledge transference. Relating these themes to the constructs of the Patient Enablement Instrument demonstrated a clear link between NP care and patient enablement.