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.

Critical care advanced practice providers as partners in advancing pediatric intensive care unit nursing knowledge: a needs assessment.
Mary Seidl et al.

