Difference in length of stay with care managed by clinical nurse specialists or physician assistants.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among patient length of stay, complications, and type of care manager (clinical, nurse specialists [CNSs] vs. physician assistants [PAs]). A descriptive comparison of two groups was performed. Data were collected using a retrospective chart audit of 105 randomly selected patients who had undergone elective coronary artery bypass surgery for the first time between 1991 and 1993. Group 1 comprised patients for whom PAs and cardiac surgeons co-managed postoperative care. Group 2 comprised clients whose care was co-managed by CNSs and cardiac surgeons. Complication rates were similar between the two groups. Findings indicated that the CNS-managed group had a statistically significant shorter length of stay. Results suggested that care managed by CNSs can decrease length of stay, when compared with care managed by PAs.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D009731:Nursing Audit; D010823:Physician Assistants; D012189:Retrospective Studies