As demand for nurse practitioners in all types of intensive care units continues to increase, ensuring successful integration of these nurses into adult and pediatric general and specialty intensive care units poses several challenges. Adding nurse practitioners requires strategic planning to define critical aspects of the care delivery model before the practitioners are hired, develop a comprehensive program for integrating and training these nurses, and create a plan for implementing the program. Key strategies to ensure successful integration include defining and implementing the role of nurse practitioners, providing options for orientation, and supporting and training novice nurse practitioners. Understanding the importance of appropriate role utilization, the depth of knowledge and skill expected of nurse practitioners working in intensive care units, the need for a comprehensive training program, and a commitment to continued professional development beyond orientation are necessary to fully realize the contributions of these nurses in critical care.
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1 December 2016
Advanced Practice|
December 01 2016
Integrating Nurse Practitioners Into Intensive Care Units
Shari Simone, DNP, CRNP;
Shari Simone is a senior nurse practitioner clinical program manager, Women and Children’s Services, a pediatric critical care nurse practitioner, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, and an assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland.
Corresponding author: Shari Simone, dnp, crnp, faanp, fccm, Senior NP Clinical Program Manager, Women and Children’s Services, University of Maryland Medical Center, 110 S Paca St, 8th Floor, Room 50, Baltimore, MD 21201 (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Carmel A. McComiskey, DNP, CRNP;
Carmel A. McComiskey, DNP, CRNP
Carmel A. McComiskey is the director of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, University of Maryland Medical Center, and an assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing.
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Brooke Andersen, MS, CRNP
Brooke Andersen, MS, CRNP
Brooke Andersen is a nurse practitioner clinical program manager, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center critical care units, and an adult acute care nurse practitioner, University of Maryland Medical Center.
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Crit Care Nurse (2016) 36 (6): 59–69.
Citation
Shari Simone, Carmel A. McComiskey, Brooke Andersen; Integrating Nurse Practitioners Into Intensive Care Units. Crit Care Nurse 1 December 2016; 36 (6): 59–69. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2016360
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