Centralized resources for nurse practitioners: common early experiences among leaders of six large health systems.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes common experiences of institutions that have pioneered the work of integrating nurse practitioners (NPs) into complex hospital environments and addresses effective strategies in achieving a centralized leadership model.


METHODS
We conducted an informal, written survey and focus group discussions comparing experiences of leaders who were first in the position of centralizing resources and providing leadership for NPs in a hospital-based setting. Experiences were compared and common practices summarized.


CONCLUSIONS
The numbers of NPs required to provide patient care in an ever-growing, complex hospital environment are increasing rapidly. To meet the professional needs of these hospital-based NPs, a strong centralized leadership approach should be utilized. An organized and centralized approach to credentialing, program development, orientation, and evaluation processes will become necessary as hospitals continue to hire increased numbers of NPs.


CONCLUSIONS
This article summarizes important considerations for formulating centralized leadership models for hospital-based NPs and provides a guide for administrators and NPs who are attempting to build similar models.
University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Buffalo, New York, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, New York, City of Bryan Employee Health Center, St. Joseph Regional Health Center, Bryan, Texas, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, Duke University Health System, Durham, North Carolina Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Mona N
MN
Bahouth
Michael
M
Ackerman
Elizabeth F
EF
Ellis
Janet
J
Fuchs
Carmel
C
McComiskey
Elizabeth S
ES
Stewart
Clare
C
Thomson-Smith
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002497:Centralized Hospital Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016730:Program Development
Leadership; administration; advanced practice nurse (APN); nurse practitioners; organizational change; practice management; program development