title: The role of advanced practice nurses in transplant center staffing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite increased rates of solid organ transplantation and frequent use of advanced practice nurses (APNs) to manage patients, no established staffing model including APNs and their roles exists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the role and integration of APNs in the staffing models of existing transplant centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive research using a researcher-designed survey of transplant APN professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  53 attendees of a national APN transplant clinical management symposium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Investigator-designed survey tool consisting of 21 questions delivered in a paper format with 1 open-ended question about adequacy of current staffing and ideas for improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  53 responses from staff members of 21 different transplant centers were collected. In addition to APNs, members of existing transplant staffing models were identified as licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, social workers, administrative assistants, and data managers. The primary responsibilities of APNs were both inpatient and outpatient, before and after transplant, and consisted primarily of collecting patients' medical histories, doing physical examinations, handling clinic visits, and education. Licensed practical and registered nurses handled pre-transplant referral management and phone triage duties. Social workers, administrative assistants, and data managers were responsible for social support, medical record management, and regulatory documentation, respectively. Most respondents (57%) found current staffing to be inadequate in their centers and suggested areas for improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APNs play a vital role in management of transplant patients. Transplant centers use APNs in different capacities, depending on the individual needs of the institution. Across institutions, support staff is crucial in the perception of adequate staffing. Additional research is needed to determine the most efficient use of APNs in transplant centers.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. haley.hoy@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Haley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Jerita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zavala
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000451:nursing*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce