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Limited obstetric ultrasound examinations: competency and cost
Marilyn Stringer1, Susan R Miesnik, Linda P Brown
1University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19104-6096, USA. stringer@nursing.upenn.edu
Objective:
To determine both the actual dollar cost and the amount of time required per nurse to establish competency in limited obstetric ultrasonography (LOBU).
Design:
Descriptive.
Setting:
A tertiary care setting.
Participants:
Registered nurses who were taught in LOBU.
Results:
Nurses who attained competency in LOBU completed 12 hours of didactic education and a clinical practicum consisting of 6 to 9 hours and approximating 15 ultrasound scans. For five nurses to concurrently attain competency in LOBU, the cost per nurse was $1,037.55 (includes salaries and employee benefits).
Conclusion:
Registered nurses are able to acquire competency in LOBU at a reasonable cost, thus enhancing the ability of the professional nurse to deliver a fuller scope of services in an obstetric setting. For institutions that have limited access to individuals with this skill, nurses trained in LOBU may present a high-quality, cost-efficient solution to providing needed obstetric services.