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

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The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the largest and only full-service national professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties.

The examination of inter-professional relationships and the effect these have on teams and teamwork is extensive. In much of the literature, concepts have been studied separately, and so the linkages to contexts and the broader socio-historical background were notable for their absence. The picture of teams, their work and process is skewed, as emphasis on one topic is often at the expense of another. Conceptual rigour is required if we are to understand what we are talking about.

The examination of inter-professional relationships and the effect these have on teams and teamwork is extensive. In much of the literature, concepts have been studied separately, and so the linkages to contexts and the broader socio-historical background were notable for their absence. The picture of teams, their work and process is skewed, as emphasis on one topic is often at the expense of another. Conceptual rigour is required if we are to understand what we are talking about.

Interdisciplinary team work is increasingly prevalent, supported by policies and practices that bring care closer to the patient and challenge traditional professional boundaries. To date, there has been a great deal of emphasis on the processes of team ...

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), provide and coordinate patient care and they may provide primary and specialty health care. The scope of practice varies from state to state.

A 5 year study on ACNP's on the role in practice and how it was established.

Is the transition from RN to APRN that begins during the start of school. How students struggle with balancing academics, life, and other demands. This article shows how nursing faculty can aid and mentor students successfully in their transition into practice.

Is the transition from RN to APRN that begins during the start of school. How students struggle with balancing academics, life, and other demands. This article shows how nursing faculty can aid and mentor students successfully in their transition into practice.

Is the transition from RN to APRN that begins during the start of school. How students struggle with balancing academics, life, and other demands. This article shows how nursing faculty can aid and mentor students successfully in their transition into practice.