EPIGENESIS OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER ROLE REVISITED

In the mid-1970s, an article discussed the identity crises of nurse pr actitioner (NP) students which occurred during their educational exper ience. This article noted that NP students progress from dependence to interdependence and demonstrate regression, anxiety and conflict. Twe nty years later We have also observed these changes in our own graduat e students. This article describes our observations, analyzes them wit h respect to well-known developmental theory, and offers suggestions f or teaching methodologies which enhance successful transitions through the crises.