Revealing how language builds the identity of the advanced nurse practitioner

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore how language works to enable and constrain the role of the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) in the health system. Background: Nurses and doctors are produced within historically established disciplinary boundaries. These boundaries are becoming more porous, offering the possibility of a more liberated identity for ANPs that will allow them to reach their full potential. Current uncertainty and confusion about ANPs’ identity result in their role being underutilised. Design: A critical discourse analysis design was used to explore participants’ language-in-use. Findings are reported according to the COREQ research checklist. Method: Data were collected through seven in-depth interviews and four focus groups and analysed using Gee’s (2010) Identity Building Tool. Participants included ANPs, nurses (including nurse managers), doctors and allied healthcare professionals. Results: Four discourses were revealed. Participants’ language-in-use worked to privilege the ANP’s uniquely holistic identity. However, this aspect is also associated with a controlled identity, predominantly constrained by medics and restricted from advancing. The third discourse, the medicalised identity builds an identity that positions ANPs as medical replacements who are assigned trivial medical tasks. The final discourse constructs an independent powerful identity for the ANP that is influential and autonomous. Conclusions: Circulating discourses and conversations can influence and shape the construction of the ANP identity. Healthcare professionals need to identify and counter discourses and conversations that construct ANPs’ ways of knowing and knowledge as inferior and their role as subservient. Otherwise, ANPs’ identity will continue to be controlled and their advancement restricted. Relevance to clinical practice: Confusion concerning the role and identity of the ANP can limit their contribution to the healthcare system. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of how language-in-use can prevent the role from developing and reaching its full potential in enhancing healthcare provision and delivery. Reporting follows the COREQ criteria.