How do emergency nurse practitioners experience managing acutely unwell patients in minor injury units? An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Introduction and aimEmergency nurse practitioners (ENPs) working autonomously within minor injury units (MIUs) sometimes have to manage acutely unwell patients who self present. It is likely that whilst emergency departments remain under increasing pressure, this subsection of patients will continue to attend. There is little published research exploring ENPs’ experiences during such incidents. This small qualitative study aims to explore emergency nurse practitioners’ experiences of managing acutely unwell patients in MIU. MethodData were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews via a purposive sample of six ENPs from a countywide MIU service within one UK Trust. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework (IPA) was used to interpret data. FindingsThree superordinate themes evolved: emotional resilience, ENP identity and external factors. These were explored further through six further subthemes; emotional responses, coping, clinical competence, who is the MIU ENP? environmental factors and ‘why didn’t you call 999?’ DiscussionENPs regularly manage a diverse range of high acuity patients in MIUs, often with limited resources available. Such events are highly stressful, resulting in professional role disparity and leaving ENPs vulnerable to burnout and PTSD. Robust research is needed to determine how ENPs can prepare for such events, and the frequency of such incidents.