Step It Up: How Unit-Based Nurse Practitioners Can Improve Professionalism and Quality of Care

The role of the unit-based Nurse Practitioner is new and evolving.  Nurse Practitioners have a significant presence in the out-patient setting, but how can they be utilized effectively in the inpatient setting?  There is an opportunity for stepping up the quality of care and staff professionalism through the role of the Nurse Practitioner in the hospital setting.

Brooten, et al. (2002) tested the quality cost model of nurse practitioner based care with favorable outcome.  Evidence-based practice is considered the optimal goal and was encouraged by Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt (2011).  Nurse Practitioners can lead the staff to higher levels of understanding of the need for evidence-based practice and encourage staff participation in education and research.

The role of Nurse Practitioner in the unit-based setting in Labor & Delivery will be discussed.  Patient rounding, twice daily multi-disciplinary rounds, coordination with the Clinical Educator for high level media friendly staff education, encouragement and support for staff to pursue certification and higher degrees, nurse led research projects and publication in national journals have resulted.  Steps to implementation and success stories will be highlighted to enable the listener to personalize this process.