Experience of military nurse practitioners during their first year of practice

The lived experience of military nurse practitioners during their first year of clinical experience was explored using a phenomenological approach. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of the military nurse practitioner during the first year of practice. Purposive sampling of 6 military advanced practice nurses (APNs) was used. Data was generated using open-ended core questions and in-depth face-to-face interviews. Data analysis incorporated the qualitative methods of Marshall and Rossman and Scannel-Desch. Seven theme categories and fifteen theme clusters emerged from the data collected. The theme categories were: nurse practitioner role issues, it's more than they bargained for, control issues, stress and challenges, preceptor stories, patients and practice, and looking toward the future. The data was related to Van Manen's four existential themes. This study is significant to military nursing because very few studies focused on the experience of military nurse practitioners. In addition, transitions have been identified as one of the key concepts central to the discipline of nursing. Recommendations for further study include examining the specific role of the Family Nurse Practitioner, studying the NP role from a physician's perspective, and including Navy NPs in future studies.