The role of the nurse practitioner (NP) has been successfully implemented globally including in some Southeast Asian countries. However, the Philippines has yet to enact this expanded role, not with standing being faced with the common factors influencing the evolution of the NP role indicated in the literature. With the proposed repeal of the current Philippine Nursing Law to include Advanced Practice Nursing, this study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses and physicians in the Philippines on the NP role. Sixty-six participants (41 nurses and 25 physicians) completed the survey on the knowledge and attitude on the NP role, conducted in two tertiary-level hospitals in Manila. Nurses have statistically higher scores on items regarding general understanding of the NP role, and on the difference of the NP from senior nurses. However, the difference of overall survey scores on the knowledge and attitude on the NP role between nurses and physicians was statistically non-significant. These results support the need to raise awareness on the role of the NPs by educating nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in the Philippine setting.
Advanced practice nursing ; nurse practitioner ; knowledge ; attitudes