Demonstrating the value of the advanced practice nurse: an evaluation model

• Published in: AACN clinical issues Vol. 9; no. 2; p. 296
• Main Authors: Byers, J F, Brunell, M L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-05-1998
• Subjects: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Job Description; Models, Nursing; Neonatal Nursing - standards; Nurse Practitioners - standards; Nursing Evaluation Research; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Quality of Health Care
• ISSN: 1079-0713
• DOI: 10.1097/00044067-199805000-00014

Advanced practice nurses are challenged to assess comprehensively the value of their role and the impact of their practice. Value is defined as quality divided by cost. The correlations among the structure, strategies of care (process), and their objectives (outcome) are key to the assessment of the quality of care and the impact of the advanced practice nurse's role. Advanced practice nurses are challenged to provide high quality care for a competitive or decreased cost. For the profession of nursing, outcomes are the result of interventions based on the nurse's clinical judgment and theoretical, practical, or scientific knowledge. An evaluation model is presented that comprehensively measures the impact of advanced practice nurses on patients and families, and an example is presented. Using the model will give credibility and validity to the APNs' positive impact on the quality and financial outcomes of care for each patient and for entire patient populations.