Recruitment and participant sample
The number of authorized and practicing NPs in both
countries at the time of this research was less than 100,
hence purposeful sampling was used for an interpretive
research approach. The inclusion criteria were authorized
NPs currently practicing in a NP role. Nurse practitioners in
New Zealand and three states in Australia where NPs were
both legitimized and practicing were invited to participate in
the study. Recruitment occurred through the nursing regulatory
authority in each jurisdiction with a letter of invitation
to participate, contact details of researchers in the jurisdiction
and information and consent documents. Sampling concluded
after 15 interviews, at which time data saturation
through identification and strengthening of themes had
occurred. Almost one in every three of the NPs interviewed
practiced in New Zealand.