Limited obstetric ultrasound examinations: competency and cost.
OBJECTIVE
To determine both the actual dollar cost and the amount of time required per nurse to establish competency in limited obstetric ultrasonography (LOBU).


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
A tertiary care setting.


METHODS
Registered nurses who were taught in LOBU.


RESULTS
Nurses who attained competency in LOBU completed 12 hours of didactic education and a clinical practicum consisting of 6 to 9 hours and approximating 15 ultrasound scans. For five nurses to concurrently attain competency in LOBU, the cost per nurse was $1,037.55 (includes salaries and employee benefits).


CONCLUSIONS
Registered nurses are able to acquire competency in LOBU at a reasonable cost, thus enhancing the ability of the professional nurse to deliver a fuller scope of services in an obstetric setting. For institutions that have limited access to individuals with this skill, nurses trained in LOBU may present a high-quality, cost-efficient solution to providing needed obstetric services.
Stringer
Marilyn
M
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19104-6096, USA. stringer@nursing.upenn.edu
Miesnik
Susan R
SR
Brown
Linda P
LP
Menei
Lynne
L
Macones
George A
GA
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing*; D014481:United States