Advanced practitioners in emergency care: a literature review

There has been an expansion of advanced practitioner roles, such as advanced clinical practitioners, in emergency departments (EDs) in recent years, with the assumption that they will positively affect the provision and quality of emergency care. This article presents a literature review which aimed to identify the evidence on the effects of advanced practitioners in emergency care. The search revealed only four papers, but these studies did identify a need for the role, and highlighted positive attitudes towards it and its potential to improve patient care. The studies also raised concerns about the lack of clarity about titles, education, skills and competence, issues that must be addressed before implementation of such roles. There is clearly an urgent need for further research, but with careful consideration and implementation, advanced clinical practitioners, like the established emergency nurse practitioner role, can positively affect emergency care provision and help address the challenges faced by EDs across the UK.