Advanced Practice Provider Critical Care Boot Camp: A Simulation-Based Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Advanced Practice Provider Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Increasing demand for advanced practice providers (APPs) in the US, particularly in intensive care settings.
• Lack of mandatory postgraduate training for APPs leads to extended supervised practice periods.
• Need for specialized educational programs to expedite APP competency development and credentialing for procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a training boot camp for APPs focused on critical care.
• To provide training in common high-risk procedures and leadership for critical care cases.
• To expedite the orientation and competency development of APPs entering critical care.

Main Methods:

• Development of a specialized boot camp curriculum for APPs.
• Implementation of the training program focusing on critical care procedures and leadership.
• Short-term evaluation of the boot camp's effectiveness in enhancing APP preparedness.

Main Results:

• The boot camp successfully provided training in critical care procedures and leadership skills.
• The program aimed to shorten the orientation period for newly practicing APPs.
• Initial evaluation indicated the program's potential to expedite APP transition into practice.

Conclusions:

• A critical care boot camp can effectively train advanced practice providers in essential skills.
• Such programs facilitate the rapid integration of APPs into intensive care settings.
• This initiative supports the development of competent and autonomous APPs, addressing workforce needs.