Group items tagged

Interdisciplinary Teamwork article

Interdisciplinary team work is a complex process in which different types of staff work together to share expertise, knowledge, and skills to impact on patient care. Despite increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary team work over the past decade, in particular the growth of interdisciplinary education [ 1], there is little evidence as to the most effective way of delivering interdisciplinary team work [ 2].

Interdisciplinary team work is a complex process in which different types of staff work together to share expertise, knowledge, and skills to impact on patient care. Despite increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary team work over the past decade, in particular the growth of interdisciplinary education [ 1], there is little evidence as to the most effective way of delivering interdisciplinary team work [ 2].

BACKGROUND: The trauma service experienced preventable delays caused by an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education work restrictions and a 16% increase in patient census. Furthermore, nurses needed a consistently accessible provider for the coordination of care. We hypothesized that using experienced acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) on the stepdown unit would improve throughput and decrease length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges. Moreover, we hypothesized that adding ACNPs would improve staff satisfaction. On December 1, 2011, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Division of Trauma reassigned ACNPs to the stepdown area 5 days a week for a pilot program. METHODS: LOS data from December 1, 2011 through December 1, 2012 was compared with data from the same months from the previous two years and estimated hospital charges and patient days were extrapolated. Physician and nursing surveys were performed. Data from 2010 (n = 2,559) and 2011 (n= 2,671) were averaged and the mean LOS for the entire trauma service was 7.2 days. After adding an experienced ACNP, the average LOS decreased to 6.4 days, a 0.8 day reduction. Per patient, there was a $ 9,111.50 savings in hospital charges, for a reduction of $27.8 million dollars in hospital charges over the 12 month pilot program. RESULTS: A confidential survey administered to attending physicians showed that 100% agreed that a nurse practitioner in the stepdown area was beneficial and helped throughput. Dayshift nurses were surveyed, and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that the ACNPs were knowledgeable about the patient's plan of care, experienced in the care of trauma patients, and improved patient care overall. CONCLUSION: The addition of experienced ACNPs resulted in the decrease of overall trauma service LOS, saving almost $9 million in hospital charges

Pediatric NP's began training in 1965 in order to enhance the role of the pediatric nurse; however, since then PNP's are seeking increased autonomy from MD's in order to work to the full extent of the knowledge and skills. The article describes how PNP's are aptly trained to assess kid's who are abused, exploited, neglected, or need immunizations. As a result, PNP's have a unique role, separate from MD's, to enhance any practice.

This article provides good tips as a new NP on the job!

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology (van Manen, 1990) was to gain insight into the meaning and lived experience of nurse practitioners (NP) with at least one year of work experience regarding their initial transition from new graduate to hospital-based practitioner. This study provided information regarding NP hospital-based transition experience that had not been revealed in the nursing literature. The meaning of transitioning into hospital-based practice was discovered through analysis of nurse practitioner letters and interviews in this phenomenological study. Six themes emerged from this research including: Going from expert RN to novice NP; system integration; "Don't Give Up"; Learning "On the Fly"; They Don't Understand my NP Role; and Succeeding Through Collaboration.   Master's prepared, board-certified NPs in North Carolina (NC) with between one and three years of NP practice experience in a hospital setting comprised the population of interest for this study. Twelve participants were purposefully sampled from nine hospitals in NC. Individual, voice-recorded, in-depth, open-ended telephone interviews were conducted with each participant.   The majority of the participants indicated a timeframe that ranged from six to 18 months regarding how long it took them to feel more comfortable in their NP role, the lack of comfort was most intense during the first nine months of practice. Participants confronted multiple obstacles and challenges as new NPs. These challenges included navigating and negotiating a new health care provider role; becoming integrated into a hospital system in what was a new role for them and sometimes for the system; learning how to function effectively as a NP while simultaneously working to re-establish themselves as proficient clinicians with a newly expanded practice scope; building key relationships; and educating physicians, hospital leaders, clinical staff, patients, and families about the NP

Understanding Medicare Supplement Plans is essential for those approaching Medicare eligibility. Medicare Nationwide places significant emphasis on education, providing an array of resources to assist beneficiaries in comprehending the intricacies of these plans. Through detailed brochures, informative articles, and interactive online platforms, Medicare Nationwide ensures individuals have access to comprehensive knowledge about Medicare Supplement options.

This article describes the results of a survey conducted of nurse leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean about their perception and knowledge of advance practice nursing. The results show that the majority of nurse leaders recognize a need for APRNS in order to create better access to care, however, the nursing education and legislation in the majority of the countries does not support APRN practices. This is an interesting introduction of APRNs in Latin America and the Caribbean for anyone who has interest of working in these areas.

This article presents a team practice model and team building. Good interdisciplinary teamwork requires goals, knowledge, trust between each other, communication, conflict resolution, and so on.

This is a nice synopsis of key moments in history that have triggered the growth and development of the NP role in the US.

This is a Canadian public ad campaign, defining what nurse practitioners are, what they can do, and how they can help improve quality of and access to care. It is well-made. I feel that similar campaigns in the U.S. Would help to increase public knowledge and understanding of our profession.

This article describes the orientation process used in a pediatric cardiac center for APNs to increase confidence in skills, knowledge of role, mentorship, and NP retention during the first year of practice.

This article is from the University of Penn. School of Nursing stating that APRN's are the future of healthcare because of there wide knowledge of various fields (FNP's).

This article gives a succinct overview of the origins of advanced practice nursing in the United States.

This article highlights the changes in policy that are needed to enable nurse practitioners their full scope of practice in a way that benefits patients and families at end-of-life. Nurse practitioners need the ability to practice to their full scope of practice, including providing autonomous care, receiving adequate and equal reimbursement for services, and having the authority to prescribe controlled substances II through V. Nurses also need to endorse policies that require specialized education so they receive the knowledge and skills necessary to be leaders in end-of-life care.

This article discusses the barriers to NP practice with the current healthcare reform by addressing the shortage of primary care providers and the limitations of APRN practice. Barriers that were emphasized include state practice and licensure, physician related issues, education, and role perception. This article stresses that an APRN should be able to practice to the fullest extent of their training.

This is an excellent overview of common barriers to APRN practice that effect the Triple Aim for healthcare: better care (individuals), better health (populations), and lower cost.

This article first provides a brief history on APRNs. It also discusses barriers to the APRN scope of practice.

This link includes the type of knowledge areas, domains, and procedures the AANPCP certifies with the certification exam.