title: Processes of care: comparison between nurse practitioners and physician residents in acute care.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the processes of care (performance of role functions, provision of comprehensive care, coordination of services) of acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) and physician residents (PRs) assigned to various medical and surgical programs in acute care settings. A cross-sectional comparative design was used. ACNPs (n = 31) and PRs (n = 10) completed the study questionnaire within two weeks of consenting. Patients who received ACNP care (n = 320) and those who received PR care (n = 46) completed the questionnaire within one week of discharge. The results indicate that ACNPs engaged in management and informal coordination activities more than PRs did, while PRs engaged in more formal coordination activities compared to ACNPs. ACNPs encouraged more patient participation in care and provided more patient education than PRs. These findings, which reflect differences in the processes used by ACNPs and PRs to provide care to patients, could influence the quality and cost outcomes expected of these two groups of healthcare providers.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, ON. s.sidani@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Souraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sidani
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LeFort
authors.forename: Linda Lee
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: O'Brien-Pallas
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laschinger
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkissian
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009864:Ontario; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010819:Physician's Role; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013996:Time and Motion Studies