Measuring practice patterns among acute care nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
This initiative was designed to develop a reliable instrument to measure the activities of acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs). A sound, standardized method for measuring ACNP productivity will assist nursing leaders and administrators to demonstrate the effectiveness and productivity of ACNPs in and across institutions and systems.


BACKGROUND
Current research on ACNPs uses many different methodologies and research designs, and fails to provide standard definitions to measure practice patterns, making it difficult to generalize across settings.


METHODS
Advisory groups from 2 New York academic health science centers developed a survey that covered the demographic, educational, and employment characteristics of ACNPs, and a 20-item classification of advanced practice nursing activities. Sixty-one ACNPs completed surveys, a 58% response rate.


RESULTS
The survey found strong similarities at both institutions. ACNPs spend most of their time in 5 activities involving direct care and 4 activities within indirect care. Strong Cronbach alphas confirmed that the instrument was reliable.


CONCLUSIONS
The availability of a reliable instrument for measuring ACNP practice patterns provides administrators with a powerful tool to demonstrate the contributions of their ACNPs. In addition, a standardized method for data collection can contribute to healthcare workforce policy discussions.
Rosenfeld
Peri
P
Division of Nursing, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York, 10003-6677, USA. peri.rosenfeld@nyu.edu
McEvoy
Mary Dee
MD
Glassman
Kimberly
K
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000145:classification / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods*; D009736:Nursing Process; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016526:Workload