Nurse-sensitive outcomes of advanced practice

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) in the USA are registered nurses who hold masters or doctoral degrees in a specialized area of nursing. They provide advanced clinical care to clients, manage health care systems and influence health care decision-making through expert clinical reasoning and research and theory-based action. APN impact on health care outcomes is supported by studies using physician-focused indicators, although a few studies have identified several that are sensitive to or reflective of advanced practice nursing. A modified Delphi survey was conducted during May 1997-December 1998 to determine the outcome indicators APNs recommend for use in measuring their effect on care delivery outcomes. A convenience sample of 66 APNs attending a statewide outcomes conference identified 27 potential outcome indicators. These indicators were included in a mailed survey sent to APNs working in Tennessee. Respondents were asked to rate each indicator for validity, sensitivity, feasibility, utility and cost. In the second round of the survey, they were asked whether or not they agreed with the rank ordering of indicators, which was determined by the means calculated from responses in the first round. The 10 highest ranked indicators were satisfaction with care delivery, symptom resolution/reduction, perception of being well cared for, compliance/adherence with treatment plan, knowledge of patients and families, trust of care provider, collaboration among care providers, frequency and type of procedures ordered and quality of life. APNs identified both direct and indirect measures of effect on care delivery outcomes. Some of these are currently used as indicators of advanced practice, but many are not. Additional research is needed to determine whether the indicators proposed are valid and sensitive to advanced practice care by nurses.     

Clinical practice: new challenges for the advanced practice nurse

This report describes the challenges for advanced practice nurses (APNs) relative to supply and demand issues. The article also includes opportunities with the Balanced Budget Act, physician acceptance of Advanced Practice Nurses, and expanding practice opportunities. The challenges include the nursing shortage (both in nursing students and faculty), the aging of the nursing workforce, and a lag in nursing salaries; increased demand for nursing based on aging baby boomers, increasing patient acuity and technology, and new arenas for practice. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 provided new opportunities for advanced practice nurses, including enhanced autonomy to provide services and bill independently of physicians. With these changes come new opportunities for advanced practice nurse entrepreneurs in the areas of independent practice, including opportunities to positively impact the health of families and communities in alignment with the Federal government's vision for "Healthy People 2010." As physician acceptance of advanced practice nurses continues to grow and in light of the changes in medical practice and education (residency reduction), opportunities to expand collaborative practice arrangements also exist. APNs are best suited to make the most of these changes. One example of an opportunity for independent practice, a Community Wellness Center, is developed as an entrepreneurial venture benefiting both the APN and the health of a community. Who better than registered nurses (RNs), especially those practicing at the advanced level, can ensure that these opportunities and challenges are addressed in an ethical manner and focused on the needs and health of the community?     

Does education level influence the practice profile of advanced practice nursing?

BackgroundAdvanced practice nursing is recognised globally as central to meeting this community need. Whilst there is increasing recognition that advanced practice nurses should be educated to at least a master degree level, there is scant evidence on the influence of higher education on the practice profile of advanced practice nursing.AimTo investigate the relationship between level of education and domain practice scores of nurses in advanced practice roles.MethodsThe validated Advanced Practice Nursing Role Delineation (APRD) tool was used to measure the practice profile of advanced practice nurses at different postgraduate education levels, across five domains of nursing practice activities. A cross-sectional electronic survey of nurses was used.FindingsAPNs with higher degrees performed at a higher level across all five domains of the APRD tool compared to those who did not hold a higher degree. This was highly significant for the domains of Research and Leadership, followed by the Optimising Health Systems and Education domains, but not significant for the Direct Care domain.DiscussionQuestions are often raised about the benefits of investing in nurses’ education, particularly the need for a higher degree for advanced practice nurses. APNs with higher degrees have a different emphasis in their role activities than those without a higher degree. This difference could be significant given current global health challenges.ConclusionHigher education changes the practice profile of APNs. Those with higher education are more likely to be involved in research and leadership with knowledge integration across all practice domains.     

Enhancing psychiatric nursing practice: role of an advanced practice nurse.

In response to demands for alternative health models that deliver cost-effective quality care, one large Midwestern medical center implemented a change in their nursing practice model. The change involved the introduction of unit-based nursing leadership teams that included advanced practice nurses (APNs). This article reports the findings from an investigation that employed a case study design to evaluate the process and outcomes of integrating an APN on a psychiatric unit with experienced nurses. Data collection methods included a nursing survey (n = 34), interviews with nine randomly selected nurses, and two multidisciplinary open forums. Consistent with the staff nurses' survey ratings of important advanced practice role functions, responses from the nursing interviews and open forums suggested nurses' professional development to be the most positive outcome. Role confusion was identified as a negative outcome. Recommendations for improved integration and use of APNs in today's psychiatric health environments were identified.     

临床护士护理伦理认知及教育情况调查分析

目的:了解临床护士护理伦理学知识水平及接受护理伦理学教育的情况。方法:采用自制的调查问卷,对上海市两所三级甲等综合性医院的235名临床护士进行问卷调查。结果:部分护士缺乏护理伦理知识和伦理意识,未能认识到护理伦理对护理实践的指导作用。相关分析表明,护士的教育背景与护士的伦理知识水平呈显著正相关(P<0.01),护士的职称与护士对护理伦理教育意义的认同水平呈显著正相关(P<0.01)。结论:医院应充分重视临床护士的护理伦理学教育,促进临床护士伦理素质的提高;成立护理伦理委员会,为临床护士提供伦理方面的帮助。     

Hospital and parish (county) utilization of master's-prepared nurses in Louisiana

Recent regulation in Louisiana involving advanced practice nursing, combined with new educational standards at the Master's level established by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, prompted a statewide survey of hospitals and parish health units. The purpose of the survey was to determine whether and to what extent Master's-prepared nurses were being used in Louisiana and to identify the importance placed on role functions and activities generally associated with the advanced practice nurse (APN). The survey included open-ended questions concerning expectations about future hirings and perceptions of future roles and duties of the Master's-prepared nurse as well as suggestions to educators on what is needed to better prepare nursing students at the Master's level. Results from this exploratory survey provide information on APN utilization with implications for nursing educators and administrators as well as APNs.     

Advanced practice nurses' perspectives on the use of health optimization strategies for managing chronic disease among older adults in different care settings: pushing the boundaries of self-management programs

This study examines the intention of advanced practice nurses (APNs) to utilize health optimization programs (HOPs) for addressing clients' chronic disease in various work settings (i.e., nursing homes or other care settings). A paper-based survey was administered to 270 APNs at a continuing education conference to determine their intentions to refer patients to HOPs for chronic disease management. APNs working in nursing homes were 0.23 times as likely to utilize HOPs for management of their patients' chronic disease compared with their counterparts working in other care settings (odds ratio = 0.23, confidence interval = 0.06-0.80, P = .021). APNs who had previously used a HOP for management of their patients' chronic disease were 5.2 times as likely to do so again relative to those who had not previously used a HOP for management of their patients' chronic disease (odds ratio = 5.17, confidence interval = 1.78-14.99, P = .002). Educational and organizational interventions are recommended to disseminate further HOPs for chronic disease in nursing home settings as part of an overall health optimization strategy.     

Advanced practice nurses' role in the treatment of pain

In 2003, the Canadian Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (CAAPN), with an educational grant from Purdue Pharma Canada, conducted a web-based survey to examine the pain management practices of advanced practice nurses (APNs). The survey objectives were to explore the role of APNs with respect to the treatment of pain, to determine the extent of their influence over treatment outcomes of patients with pain and to ascertain their level of knowledge of controlled-release pain medication. One hundred and sixteen surveys were collected. Results of the survey showed that APNs from a variety of patient care areas are caring for patients seeking pain management. Other results support the current literature that identifies lack of knowledge, education and experience as barriers to pain management practice, influencing the decision to prescribe pain medication. APNs need the tools to develop and implement effective pain management plans for their patients.     

Ethical nursing practice: inquiry-in-action

Although the need to theorize ethics within the complexities of nursing practice has been identified within the nursing literature, to date the link between ethics epistemology and specific nursing actions has received limited attention. In particular, little exploration has been carried out to examine how nurses 'know' what is ethical and the knowledge they draw upon to inform their nursing actions within the complexities of their everyday practice. This study describes a participatory inquiry project that focused on developing and articulating an epistemology of ethics while in the midst of everyday nursing work. Epistemological and methodological insights are discussed in light of the challenges nurses face in contemporary healthcare contexts.     

A community-oriented primary care nursing model in an international setting that emphasizes partnerships

PURPOSE: To present an interdisciplinary, community-oriented primary care nursing model that effectively draws upon the strengths of advanced practice nurses (APNs), both nurse practitioners and community health nurses. DATA SOURCES: Articles in professional nursing journals, international data sources, and the clinical experiences of the authors, both domestic and international. CONCLUSIONS: The model, developed domestically, was utilized successfully by APNs internationally in a medical mission endeavor in rural Haiti. Many partners, domestic and Haitian, worked as an interdisciplinary team to deliver quality health care to an impoverished population. Graduate nursing students participated in the program, which offered opportunities and challenges for both novice and expert nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurse practitioners, community health nurses, and nursing faculty members can use this model to enhance their professional practice. They can learn that clients can be optimally cared for whether the community served is domestic or international. Nursing faculty can teach graduate nursing students about the value of partnerships and collaboration.     

Advanced practice nurses core competencies: a framework for developing and testing an advanced practice nurse discharge intervention

The purpose of this paper was to describe evidenced-based interventions as implemented by advanced practice nurses (APNs) conducting intervention research with a vulnerable population of blood and marrow transplant patients. In addition, each of the 6 core competencies of the APN role identified by Hamric are outlined and applied using a patient case study. These competencies are the following: direct clinical practice, expert coaching and advice, consultation, research skills, clinical and professional leadership, collaboration, and ethical decision making. This article chronicles a typical patient's journey through a post-hospital discharge nursing research study involving APNs as "intervention nurses" and discusses the various aspects of the APN core competencies throughout the process.     

护理人员对护理伦理认知情况的调查分析

目的:了解护理人员对护理伦理的认知情况并进行分析。方法:采用自行设计问卷,对广西地区388名护理人员发放"护士对护理伦理认知情况调查表",对调查情况进行统计分析。结果:护士的护理伦理认知总得分为(48.04±7.07)分,其中医疗最优化原则、知情同意原则、保密原则和生命价值原则平均得分分别是(12.97±2.37)分(、11.45±2.63)分、(11.74±3.05)分、(11.87±3.34)分;不同职称、护龄的调查对象对护理伦理的认知得分有统计学差异(P<0.01),管理人员与非管理人员间有统计学差异(P<0.01);护士学习护理伦理知识的途径过于单一。结论:要加强低年资及低职称护士的护理伦理知识学习,实现护理伦理教育形式的多样化,从而提高护士的护理伦理知识,为临床护理实践和临床护理人员营造有利的护理伦理氛围。     

Listening to nurses' moral voices: building a quality health care environment

In this paper we describe a research project in nursing ethics aimed at exploring the meaning of ethics for nurses providing direct care with clients. This was a practice-based project in which participants who were staff nurses, nurses in advanced practice, and students in nursing were asked to tell us (or describe to us) how they thought about ethics in their practice, and what ethical practice meant to them. We then undertook to analyze, describe and understand the enactment of ethical practice, the opportunities for and barriers to such enactment, as well as the resources nurses need for ethical practice. We drew out implications of these findings for nursing leaders. We identified practice realities that create a climate for ethical or moral distress, and the way in which nurses attempt to maintain their moral agency. Practice realities included nurses' ethical concerns about policies guiding care; the financial, human and temporal resources available for care; and the power and conflicting loyalties nurses encounter inproviding good care. Maintaining moral agency involved use of a variety of ethical resources and the identification of resources needed to provide good care, as well as the processes used to enact moral agency. Nurse leaders are also moral agents. Important implications of these findings for nursing leaders are that they need moral courage to be self-reflective, to name their own moral distress, and to act so that their nursing staff are able to be moral agents. Nurse leaders need to be the moral compass for nurses, using their power as a positive force to promote, provide and sustain quality practice environments for safe, competent and ethical practice.     

A comparative study of Chinese,American and Japanese nurses' perceptions of ethical role responsibilities

This article reports a survey of nurses in different cultural settings to reveal their perceptions of ethical role responsibilities relevant to nursing practice. Drawing on the Confucian theory of ethics, the first section attempts to understand nursing ethics in the context of multiple role relationships. The second section reports the administration of the Role Responsibilities Questionnaire (RRQ) to a sample of nurses in China (n = 413), the USA (n = 163), and Japan (n = 667). Multidimensional preference analysis revealed the patterns of rankings given by the nurses to the statements they considered as important ethical responsibilities. The Chinese nurses were more virtue based in their perception of ethical responsibilities, the American nurses were more principle based, and the Japanese nurses were more care based. The findings indicate that the RRQ is a sensitive instrument for outlining the embedded sociocultural factors that influence nurses' perceptions of ethical responsibilities in the realities of nursing practice. This study could be important in the fostering of partnerships in international nursing ethics.     

The experience of four outcomes managers: an institutional approach to weaning patients from long-term mechanical ventilation

Care of patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) is the focus of many hospitals nationwide. Because the care of patients who require LTMV is complex and morbidity and mortality are high, associated costs often exceed reimbursement. This article describes a successful institutional program for the care of the patient population requiring LTMV using advanced practice nurses (APNs) in the role of outcomes managers (OMs). So that others may benefit from the experiences of the clinicians, this article describes the historical background, the selection and qualifications of APNs, the process APNs use to manage and monitor the patients, role challenges, and associated outcomes.     

Description of an advanced practice nursing consultative model to reduce restrictive siderail use in nursing homes

Researchers have demonstrated that the use of physical restraints in nursing homes can be reduced, particularly where advanced practice nurses (APNs) are utilized. We examined the link between APN practice, siderail reduction, and the costs of siderail alternatives in 273 residents in four Philadelphia nursing homes. The majority of participants were cognitively and physically impaired with multiple co-morbidities. APNs recommended a total of 1,275 siderail-alternative interventions aimed at reducing fall risk. The median cost of siderail alternatives to prevent falls per resident was $135. Residents with a fall history experienced a significantly higher cost of recommendation compared to non-fallers. Findings suggest that an APN consultation model can effectively be implemented through comprehensive, individualized assessment without incurring substantial costs to the nursing home.     

Ohio APNs: lead poisoning knowledge and practices

PURPOSE: To determine lead poisoning knowledge and practices of Ohio's advanced practice nurses (APNs). DATA SOURCES: Original research conducted by mailed survey sent to all APNs registered in Ohio (N = 1448). The response rate was 72%. APNs from nine specialties and 70% of counties responded. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents correctly answered approximately 80% of the questions. Knowledge gaps in primary prevention strategies were noted. Of APNs serving pregnant women and/or children < 6 years, 57% screen for lead poisoning and 16% report no one provides lead education. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Lead poisoning is a preventable health problem. Education of APN students and preceptors is needed in the areas of primary lead poisoning prevention issues and practice protocols. Results from this study can help focus educational efforts and outreach programs.     

Challenges to implementing an APN-facilitated falls management program in long-term care.

Although several clinical studies have demonstrated success in reducing falls among nursing home residents, the degree of adherence to these strategies varies widely among studies and facilities, especially following the removal of external consultants or advance practice nurses (APNs). This article identified contextual factors that challenged the effective implementation of a falls reduction program. For nurses, the major problems with implementing the project involved inadequate nursing assessment and clinical decision making. APNs who influence nursing staff behavior via education and individual resident consultation may fill the critical gap in professional nursing care in nursing homes.     

Professional values and norms for nurses in Belgium

Because of their responsibilities for providing high-quality care, at times when they are continuously confronted with inherent professional and ethical challenges, nurses should meet high ethical standards of practice and conduct. Contrary to other countries, where codes of ethics for nurses are formulated to support those standards and to guide nurses' professional practice, Belgian nurses do not have a formal code of ethics. Nevertheless, professional ethics is recognized as an important aspect in legal and other professional documents. The aim of this article is to illustrate that codes of ethics are not the only professional documents reflecting nurses' values, norms and responsibilities. Other documents can also set out professional nursing ethics, and as such replace codes of ethics.