Nurse practitioners working in the Emergency Department bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their role and practice, positioning them well to have influence within teams and departments. In New Zealand, nurse practitioners currently working in an Emergency Department were invited to take part in an online qualitative research project (Ara RKTC Ethics Subcommittee: MA.21.05). The purpose was to gain an understanding of their experiences and perceptions of the complex factors that impact on their role in this environment.

This presentation will examine the thread of nurse practitioner leadership that was woven throughout the themes from this research. It was clear that there were many aspects within the participants’ current roles where leadership was evident including opportunistic occasions as a resource person alongside the more formalised responsibilities within their scope of practice. As one research participant stated, “… we are often the go-to [for teams] whatever their seniority”, with another stating “… I contribute to the leadership of the department in both the nursing and medical teams”.

However, their ability to consistently enact leadership and the potential for growth in this area were influenced by existing leadership structures within healthcare and Emergency Department models of care. Recognising and developing leadership standing and capability within nurse practitioner roles in the Emergency Department setting is important not only for individuals in their careers but also for increasing the number of nurse practitioner roles within this clinical specialty. The findings of this research drew further conclusion that Emergency Department nurse practitioners would like to gain experience and confidence to be involved in leadership at national and governmental levels in order to promote the profession as whole.