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Doctor of Philosophy, (Nursing)
Study Completed: 2017
College of Health
Thesis Title
Nurse practitioners in rural primary health care in New Zealand: An institutional ethnography
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Internationally, it has been demonstrated that nurse practitioners are an effective and appropriate health workforce delivering primary health care services to underserved and rural populations. Currently, New Zealand has more people living with long term health conditions, an increasing older population, and health inequalities that continue to persist particularly for Māori and poorer communities. Despite the declining rural medical workforce, New Zealand has been slow to develop nurse practitioner services. Ms Adams explored how the experiences of nurses on their journey to becoming nurse practitioners and to delivering nurse practitioner services in rural communities was restricted by the structure and organisation of health services, including general practice. Her research identified that fragmented health service organisations and the ongoing policy commitment to doctor-led care limited the opportunity to improve primary health care services and use nurse practitioners to meet the health needs of rural communities.
Supervisors
Professor Jenny Carryer
Dr Jill Wilkinson