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"A sweeping review of the scientific literature on the quality, safety, and effectiveness of care provided by APRNs is needed to inform educational, policy, and organizational decisions," said Dr. Newhouse. "Our team will evaluate the evidence on the outcomes of care provided by APRNs since 1990 objectively, define the effectiveness and limitations of APRNs, and determine the overall strength of the evidence on this important topic. I am looking forward to working with my team to provide a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of the evidence."
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Though APRNs have been linked to improved access to healthcare services, enhanced patient safety, and cost-effective care, a contemporary systematic review is needed to gauge the overall impact these providers are having in today's healthcare system. In 1987, the federal Office of Technology Assessment conducted a meta-analysis of the quality and safety of care delivered by nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and certified nurse midwives. The overwhelming conclusion of that analysis was that these clinicians are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and effective providers of care. This study also concluded that a significant portion of the care needs of this country could be delivered by these clinicians. Since this study was released, no other national analysis of the growing body of research on APRN practice has been conducted.
This new research effort, titled An Assessment of the Safety, Quality, and Effectiveness of Care Provided by Advanced Practice Nurses, will culminate in an expansive final report which will summarize the latest data on APRNs as well as an article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. This work is expected to be completed by January 2009. The organizations supporting this work understand the essential role APRNs play in the healthcare delivery system and recognize the ability of these clinicians to provide effective, high-quality interventions.
The Tri-Council for Nursing, a long-standing alliance whose members include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives, and National League for Nursing, initiated this analysis of current APRN practice and associated outcomes. To date, 23 additional nursing organizations have endorsed this work and provided the financial contributions needed to fund this sizable study. Supporting organizations include:
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American College of Nurse Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses' Association
American Nurses Association
American Nurses Credentialing Center
American Organization of Nurse Executives
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
