Keywords

acute care nurse practitioners, clinical practice guidelines, compliance, critical care

Authors

1. Gracias, Vicente H. MD
2. Sicoutris, Corinna P. MSN, CRNP
3. Stawicki, S. Peter MD
4. Meredith, Denise M. MSN, CRNP
5. Horan, Annamarie D. PhD
6. Gupta, Rajan MD
7. Haut, Elliott R. MD
8. Auerbach, Sue MHA
9. Sonnad, Seema PhD
10. Hanson, C. William III MD
11. Schwab, C. William MD

Abstract

This prospective study examined whether the integration of acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP) in a "semiclosed" surgical intensive care unit (SICU) model increased compliance with clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Patients were admitted to critical care services with a (a) "semiclosed"/ACNP team or (b) "mandatory consultation"/non-ACNP team. CPG compliance was significantly higher (P < .05) on the "semiclosed"/ACNP team for all 3 CPGs examined in the study.