Personality trait profiles of nurse practitioners

Little is known about personality traits of nurse practitioners (NPs). This information would be useful to the individual NP, the profession as a whole, and to foster educational offerings to mentor these traits in future NPs. The purpose of this study was to identify the personality traits of a sample of student nurse practitioners (SNPs) and NPs using the Guilford Zimmerman Temperament Survey (GZTS). The Model of Nursing Knowledge developed by Chinn & Jacobs-Kramer (1988) was used as the conceptual framework for this study. This Model defines the specifics of self and other as they relate in a conversation.

The GZTS was self administered by Internet access to the forty-four volunteer participants of 11 SNPs and 34 graduate NPs from a community in northwestern Pennsylvania. A comparison was made between these two groups and between the two groups and the Guilford data bank base population of 619 nursing student applicants (Guilford 1976). Trained staff from Career Assessment Concepts, Inc. of Erie, PA analyzed each individual's results. Grouped data was then forwarded to the researcher. No significant differences were found among the study participant group as compared to the normative base population of nursing student applicants. Of the ten personality traits according to Guilford, the study participants had mean scores higher in the areas of general activity, restraint, assertiveness, and masculinity (Guilford, Zimmerman, & Guilford, 1976).

Additional research within a larger nurse practitioner population is recommended. This will up date the data base population to include specific personality trait information for the nurse practitioner. This study was supported in part by a grant from Sigma Thetu Tau, International, Nu Theta Chapter.