Experiences of Decision Makers Establishing a Nurse-Practitioner-Led Cardiac Surgery Follow-up Clinic: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Background: Advances in cardiovascular surgery, along with early hospital discharges, have created a demand for improved postoperative outpatient support. Nurse practitioner-led (NP-led) outpatient clinics can help address this healthcare challenge. Purpose: To explore the experience of establishing an NP-led follow-up clinic. Method: A qualitative descriptive research methodology was employed, facilitating data collection through indepth semi-structured interviews with four clinic leaders. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants shared insights about the vision, facilitators, and lessons learned during the development of the clinic. Key findings included the clinic’s goal, patient impact, facilitators, barriers, leadership skills, and key learnings. Conclusions: This study deepens the understanding of the elements involved in developing an NP-led clinic for postoperative cardiac surgery patients. Implications for Practice: The findings offer practical implications for healthcare administrators and practitioners regarding the planning and implementation of such clinics, as well as informing future research.