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

J Pediatr Health Care. 2019 Jul-Aug;33(4):466-477. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2019.01.004. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Discussion: 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.

Keywords: Developmental screening; family nurse practitioners; primary care; screening behaviors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Family Nurse Practitioners* / psychology
  • Family Nurse Practitioners* / standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Care Nursing / methods*
  • Primary Care Nursing / psychology
  • Primary Care Nursing / standards
  • Qualitative Research
  • Young Adult