Jafari Pour F, Watson R, Jafaripour E, Jafarian R. The roles and responsibilities of advanced practice nurses in intensive care units: A scoping review.
ENFERMERIA INTENSIVA 2024:S2529-9840(24)00029-6. [PMID:
38972768 DOI:
10.1016/j.enfie.2024.06.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Since the intensive care units are one of the most sensitive hospital settings and critically ill patients undergo various stressful factors that put their lives in danger, a more advanced level of nursing practice is imperative to accommodate these issues and provide optimal care of patients.
OBJECTIVES
To review the literature describing the roles and activities performed by advanced practice nurses in intensive care units.
REVIEW METHODS
We conducted a scoping review to search published articles using Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science Direct, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost) and Cochrane Library during a 10-year period from 2013 to 2023.
RESULTS
We identified 729 records, from which eleven articles were included in the review. We included six reviews and five original articles or research papers. With regard to the target area of our review, we used the information provided by these studies and categorized the contents related to the roles of advanced practice nurses in intensive care units into five sections, including direct practice, education and counseling, research, collaboration, and leadership.
CONCLUSION
Advanced practice nurses are essential members of critical care team by playing various roles in practice, education, research, collaboration, and leadership, and therefore, they can increase patients' access to critical care and improve healthcare outcomes. The advancement of technology and complexity of care in intensive care units have led to the role expansion of these nurses which results in task-shifting between doctors and nurses. Therefore, it is considered essential for nursing and medical professionals to reach an agreement to establish standardized roles for advanced practice nurses.
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