Patients' perceptions of maternity nurse practitioners

Abstract

The University of California, School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is conducting a training program for Maternity Nurse Practitioners (MNP), the object being not only to equip the nurse with technical skills and competency, but also to train her to provide health education and interpersonal supportive services. This study sought to determine what patients perceive as the important aspects of an ancounter with the MNP. Three study sites were selected to represent different types of health care delivery systems: a university hospital clinic; a prepaid group health plan and two private practices. The findings suggest that well patients are very much aware of the shortcomings in care provided by physicians and indicate the need for nurse practitioners to be trained in a program that stresses a comprehensive health care model including health education and psycho social communication.