The Developmental Screening Behaviors, Skills, Facilitators, and Constraints of Family Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract

Researchers have found that many primary care providers are not following developmental screening recommendations. Few studies exist on the screening behaviors of advanced practice nurses. A qualitative descriptive study explored the screening behaviors, skills, and environmental facilitators/constraints of 24 family nurse practitioners (FNPs) who cared for pediatric patients from birth to 5 years of age in primary care settings. An inductive approach to content analysis was used to interpret the data. Five main themes emerged: (a) Developmental Screening Behaviors During Well-Child Visits, (b) Developmental Screening Behaviors When a Concern Was Raised, (c) Need for Additional Developmental Screening Skills, (d) Factors That Support Developmental Screening, and (e) Factors That Limit Developmental Screening. Sixteen subthemes supported the main themes. Most FNPs were not using standardized tools. Behaviors mainly consisted of actions that were informal. FNPs were not familiar with current recommendations, and they had difficulty describing most instruments.