Nurse Practitioners’ Use of Intuition

• Intuition has been underappreciated because it has been difficult to quantify.
• The use of intuition was investigated using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• The use of intuition was found to be used in the clinical setting by 100% of nurse practitioners using quantitative analysis.
• Intuition is used as a way of knowing in clinical decision making among nurse practitioners.
• There were no significant differences found between gender and years of clinical work experience and the use of intuition.

Intuition is known to support rapid and effective clinical performance in response to complex patient problems and situations. Little is known about the use of intuition among nurse practitioners (NP). Research to understand the use of intuition among NPs has been limited to qualitative methods. There is no documented investigation of the effect of gender and years of clinical work experience and the use of intuition among NPs. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine NPs’ use of intuition and the elements that may influence its use. This study provides a clearer understanding of how intuition guides NP practice.