Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal
Volume 12, Issue 2 , Pages 32-37, May 2009

The Transitional Emergency Nurse Practitioner role: Implementation study and preliminary evaluation

  • Margaret M. Fry, NP PhD

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, PO box 123 Broadway, Sydney 2007, Australia
    • St George Hospital, Gray Street Kogarah, Kogarah Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, PO box 123 Broadway, Sydney 2007, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9514 4826; fax: +61 2 9514 4835.
    • ,
  • Tessa Rogers, NP

      Affiliations

    • St George Hospital, Gray Street Kogarah, Kogarah Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia

Received 28 April 2008; received in revised form 10 February 2009; accepted 10 February 2009.

Summary 

Background

An implementation study was undertaken to develop and employ Transitional Emergency Nurse Practitioners (TENPs) to address increased service demands. The TENP role was to be a new advanced practice role, which was based on a Nurse Practitioner (NP) framework. The implementation study provided a roadmap for the introduction of the new nursing role. The implementation study aimed to i) develop an integrated and supported Transitional Emergency Nurse Practitioner role; ii) provide a framework for practice and knowledge development; and, iii) undertake a six month preliminary evaluation of TENP work performance.

Methods

The study describes the communication strategy, the consultative process for role definition, education, ongoing support structures and assessment and feedback mechanisms embedded in the implementation process. In addition, a six month mixed method preliminary evaluation was undertaken as part of the implementation plan. The preliminary evaluation included review of TENP managed patient groups; peer audit of TENP documentation; a senior emergency physician survey of TENP work performance; and, review of TENP investigations and referrals.

Results

TENPs managed the care of, or were involved with, 2730 patients (10%) of which 68% (n=1987) were in the ‘See and Treat’ group and 32% (n=721) were in the ‘Collaborative’ (742) and ‘Consultative’ (22) groups. TENPs managed an average of 20 patients per 15 hour work day. Work performance evaluation identified the role was safe and efficient and that staff supported the new role.

Conclusions

The implementation study provided an effective framework for the introduction of a transitional nursing role based on a NP framework. The advanced role had made a significant contribution towards meeting local service needs.

Keywords: Transitional Emergency Nurse Practitioner, Implementation study, Nurse practitioner, Job design

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PII: S1574-6267(09)00039-1

doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2009.02.003

Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal
Volume 12, Issue 2 , Pages 32-37, May 2009

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