Examining factors influencing patient satisfaction with nurse practitioners in rural urgent care centers

Purpose: To examine if demographic factors influence patients' self reports of satisfaction with care provided by nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural urgent care centers (UCCs).

Data sources: Data were collected between December 2009 and February 2010 using an 18-item self-report survey from a convenience sample of 53 patients in two rural UCCs.

Conclusions: No statistical significance was noted in regards to patient satisfaction for the demographic factors age, gender, country of upbringing, or education level. Presence of health insurance was a significant factor, with uninsured patients rating higher levels of satisfaction. However, based on patients' responses to role clarity for this survey, it is evident that there continues to be insufficient public understanding of the role of NPs.

Implications for practice: The future of the NP relies on patient approval as well as acceptance of the role. This study joins the pioneering efforts towards describing what patient satisfaction is and supports NPs serving as providers in rural, nonprimary care venues. By identifying influential factors of satisfaction, NPs can bridge the gap between availability of quality care versus a lack of access and inform policy changes in the future.