The pediatric critical care nurse practitioner: evolution and impact

This nonexperimental, descriptive pilot study evaluated the role and impact of two pediatric critical care nurse practitioners (PCCNPs) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a tertiary care children's hospital. Questions posed included: 1) Are parents satisfied with the care their child and family received from the PCCNP in the PICU?; 2) Are staff nurses satisfied with the role of the PCCNP in the PICU?; and 3) Is there a difference between the care delivered by the PCCNP and the pediatric resident staff in nutritional management and discharge planning? Study methodology included a retrospective chart review of 25 PCCNP and 25 pediatric resident staff patient charts and a questionnaire survey of a convenience sample of parents and staff nurses over a 6-month study period. Overall, parents reported that the care their children received from the PCCNP was adequate. Staff nurses were satisfied with nurse practitioner (NP) care and supported the PCCNP role. There were no significant differences in the nutritional management of the children cared for by residents and PCCNPs. However, the PCCNPs initiated documentation of discharge planning with a greater frequency and earlier in the child's hospitalization, as compared to medical staff practice. Study findings support the use of the PCCNP in the PICU as care is comparable to that of the pediatric resident staff.