Critical Care Advanced Practice Providers as Partners in Advancing Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nursing Knowledge: A Needs Assessment

Abstract

Background: Critical care advanced practice providers (APPs) are frontline providers in many pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). From 2020 to 2022, there was a significant downward shift in nursing experience level in the PICU at the authors' institution. APPs may help provide additional in situ education.

Methods: Data were collected using role-specific needs assessment of PICU nursing staff and providers, assessing concept related to knowledge and job stress.

Results: Findings overwhelmingly demonstrated desire for more APP-led education. Overall, 27% of nurse respondents strongly agreed that current knowledge was adequate to provide safe and best care for their patients, and 47% expressed neutrality to discomfort with their knowledge of patient-specific pathophysiology. Provider questionnaires demonstrated confidence in the bedside nursing knowledge "about half the time" (70%).

Discussion: This needs assessment demonstrates an opportunity for an APP-led intervention to potentially increase nursing knowledge, decrease stress, and increase confidence in the nursing care provided.

Keywords: Nursing education; critical care nursing; organizational culture; pediatric nurse practitioner; physician associate.