Exploring the Professional Identity of Advanced Clinical Practitioners: Constructivist ethnographic qualitative research study

Background: The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) is a healthcare professional who has undertaken additional years of Master's level training, acquired new skills and capabilities and developed as an autonomous practitioner. Purpose: Whilst several studies have appraised and analysed this professional role, there are limited empirical studies that have explored professional identity formation within this group. This paper explores this evolution. Method: Through a constructivist ethnographic approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with seven qualified ACPs within a secondary care setting. We identified key issues regarding professional identity formation. Results: Our research highlights the lack of role recognition which acts as a barrier to ACP professional identity formation and further development. Conclusion: We suggest that a clearer definition of the professional capabilities of ACP is developed to highlight and promote this professional group especially as they now work within an increasingly diverse range of healthcare settings. Specifically, this paper suggests: - To integrate educational strategies, peripheral participation and vocational studies within the ACP academic curriculum to explicitly discuss professional identity and expand related knowledge to support trainee ACPs to reconcile with this pivoting topic from the beginning of their training. - To support the ACP role recognition to the medical community at large. This identifies other medical colleagues, Allied healthcare practitioners and patients using healthcare services. - To enhance different methods of recognition between ACPs who are qualified and those who are in training, specifically, specifying at which stage of their training they are to aid professional identity justification and correct representation - To build robust mentorship able to encourage, address and improve personal development.