The experience of nurse partnership in general practice: A thematic analysis.

This research project was conducted within the setting of English General Practice and explored the experience of nurse partnerships; from the perspective of the Nurse Partners and their colleagues. The inquiry was within a social constructionist framework; the research was inductive, emerging and shaped by the researcher's experience. A critical emancipatory perspective fully embraced and exploited the subjectivity of the researcher. Reflexivity is used throughout the report, making visible the researcher's individuality and effect on the research process. It has been possible for nurses to become partners in general practice since 1997. However, it is not possible to determine the exact numbers of nurse partners, as there is no national list or database. There is little published research about Nurse Partners.A purposive sample of five self-selecting practices was used; geographically spread across England; representing the diversity of general practice. Nineteen in-depth interactive interviews were audiotaped: five GPs; five Nurse Partners; five practice managers and four members of the nursing team.The data was thematically analysed using the Attride-Stirling method of thematic networks. The web-like networks are an organising principle and representational. Two Global Themes were developed to conceptualise the main argument and assumptions, drawing on ten Basic Themes and four Organising Themes. The Global Theme metaphors became the titles of the interconnected Networks; 'Stepping out the Box' and Toe in the Water. The findings suggest that the Nurse Partners are pioneers; combining professional nursing with an entrepreneurial perspective. However, there remain cultural issues around equality. The research practices have embraced multi-professional working, with the Nurse Partner playing a major role in the senior management team of partners.The Nurse Partners enjoy an autonomy and independence; are able to show entrepreneurship and demonstrate a commitment to the 'business' of general practice. Nevertheless these nurses have not received the recognition they deserve. It is therefore a concern that Nurse Partnerships are not being considered as part of the solution to the 'crisis' in general practice. The entrepreneurship and expertise demonstrated by these Nurse partners in multi-professional working is vital to the continuation of modern effective primary healthcare.