Utilization of Advance Practice Nurses (APN) in the Pediatric Clinical Research Setting: A Descriptive Study

Eliades, Aris

Sunday, 17 November 2013: 11:40 AM

Aris Eliades, PhD, RN, CNS
Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH
Jenny L. Michel, MSN, RN, CPNP
Emergency Department, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH

Learning Objective 1: describe the current practice of APNs in the pediatric clinical research setting

Learning Objective 2: compare the activities of APNs in the pediatric clinical research setting to the scope and standards of advanced practice nursing

BACKGROUND: Clinical research is an area that can benefit from the skill and knowledge of an APN to successfully carry out study related responsibilities. As the number of clinical trials throughout pediatric institutions is increasing, assessment and evaluation of the need for APNs in this setting is evident. The role of the APN in clinical research and the framework used to determine the APNs roles and responsibilities are not well understood.

PURPOSE: To describe the current practice of APNs in pediatric clinical research settings and to determine if the activities of APNs in clinical research reflect the scope and standards of advanced practice nursing.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive study using an electronic survey sent to pediatric clinical research institutions. A national, convenience sample of sixty pediatric clinical research institutions completed the survey to assess the practice and activities of APNs in the clinical research setting.

RESULTS: Respondents indicated that the majority (71%) of APNs in clinical research are not performing assessments or diagnosing study patients. More than half (59%) of respondents stated that APNs were providing interventions to study patients. All of the respondents indicated that the APNs evaluate and monitor responses to study treatments and activities. APNs are performing only some of the research activities defined by the scope and standards for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and they are not fully being utilized in all domains.

CONCLUSION: These research findings provide a first look at the clinical research activities implemented by APNs in pediatric institutions. It presents information regarding the effectiveness and use of APNs and sets the ground work for an evidence base for development of roles and job descriptions for perspective APNs seeking employment in the research setting.

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