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How EverCare nurse practitioners spend their time.
R L Kane1, S Flood, G Keckhafer
1University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|March 14, 2002
Summary
Nurse practitioners (NPs) in nursing homes spend 35% of their day on direct patient care and 26% on indirect care, including vital communication with staff, families, and physicians.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Management
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Medicare Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) play a crucial role in managing care for nursing home residents.
- Understanding the daily activities of nurse practitioners (NPs) is essential for optimizing care delivery in long-term care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the time allocation and activities of nurse practitioners (NPs) working within a Medicare HMO exclusively serving nursing home residents.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study utilizing structured self-reports from 17 NPs over a two-week period.
- Data collection focused on time spent on direct and indirect patient care activities in nursing home settings.
Main Results:
- Nurse practitioners dedicated approximately 35% of their workday to direct patient care and 26% to indirect care activities.
- Indirect care involved significant communication: 46% with nursing home staff, 26% with families, and 15% with physicians.
- The average time per patient daily was 42 minutes, with 20 minutes allocated to direct care.
Conclusions:
- Nurse practitioners engage in diverse activities, with substantial time dedicated to communication with key stakeholders.
- Effective communication by NPs supports the primary care physician's role and potentially improves family satisfaction with care.