Nurse Practitionersʼ Effectiveness in NICU

The effectiveness of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNPs) in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was evaluated by using a retrospective medical records review. Two groups of infants received care in a Transitional Care Unit (TCU), one by house officers and the second cared for by NNPs. Med...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nursing management 1994-10, Vol.25 (10), p.50-53
Main Authors: SCHULTZ, JACLYN M, LIPTAK, GREGORY S, FIORAVANTI, JOANNE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Babies
Birth weight
Comparative analysis
Effectiveness
Efficiency, Organizational - statistics & numerical data
Geriatrics
Gestational age
Health care delivery
Hospitals
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - manpower
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - organization & administration
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - statistics & numerical data
Laboratories
Length of stay
Medical records
Nurse practitioners
Nurse Practitioners - organization & administration
Nurse Practitioners - statistics & numerical data
Nurses
Nursing
Patients
Pediatrics
Performance evaluation
Statistical analysis
Studies
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Summary:The effectiveness of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNPs) in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was evaluated by using a retrospective medical records review. Two groups of infants received care in a Transitional Care Unit (TCU), one by house officers and the second cared for by NNPs. Medical diagnoses, lengths of stay, hospital charges, discharge/transfer disposition and hospital readmissions were studied. No differences were found in DRG codes, discharge disposition, hospital readmission or number of infants transferred from TCU to NICU because of deteriorating condition. Though the infants cared for by the NNPs had significantly lower birth weight and lower gestational age, they averaged 2.4 fewer days in the hospital and $3,491 less in total hospital charges than the group cared for by house officers. This study confirms that NNPs can provide care comparable to house officers in a Level III NICU and be more cost effective.
ISSN:0744-6314
1538-8670
DOI:10.1097/00006247-199410000-00009