NP replacing RNs in ER?

[Matt8700, RN, EMT-B]

Thoughts on this matter?

Hire an all NP staff for the ER and assign them each a four room section, like you would an RN. The NP could then exam, diagnose, and carry out the treatment plan, thus eliminating the RN.

Heard someone talking about this a while back. Said that while they would have to spend a little more to hire all NPs, they would save in the long run.

Personally, I disagree. There is a place for NPs and a place for RNs. The NP should not replace the RN role.

Thoughts?

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I cannot imagine that actually happening, and I cannot imagine how a provider could both diagnose and prescribe and do all the bedside care. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

[thenightnurse456]

It sounds like it works in theory, however the cost of paying a staff full of NPs garuntees this would never happen.

[Matt8700, RN, EMT-B]

I understand the cost factor, but my concern would have been the nursing factor as well. I feel that providers and Nurses work together, but have a different focus. The nurse is there for continual reassessment and intervention while the provider is meant to look for the diagnosis. To have the nurse replaced by a provider would seem to be an unsafe practice to me.

[thenightnurse456]

I think it would put tremendous pressure on the NP who has to see multiple patients, assess, formulate a diagnosis as well as perform bedside duties for multiple patients.

[canigraduate]

Hmmm, that would be RN+NP duties, all falling on one person, in emergent situations. The RN role itself is more than enough for one person. If it was two patients, then maybe, but this seems to be a colossal waste of the NP's expertise and the facility's money. It's like hiring RNs to do janitorial work. Can they do it? Yes. Is it stupid to pay RN wages to empty the trash, etc.? Yes.

Not a very well thought out idea.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Honestly, I doubt the NPs would go for it. The ones that I have known are very clear that they are providers and not bedside nurses. A few of them went to become midlevels specifically so that they wouldn't have to do bedside care.

[theradiantforce]

Honestly, I doubt the NPs would go for it. The ones that I have known are very clear that they are providers and not bedside nurses. A few of them went to become midlevels specifically so that they wouldn't have to do bedside care.

This. Most of the nurses I know pursuing or practicing as NP's would vehemently refuse to do "it all". Anyway, I doubt this would work because burn out would likely happen in about 6 months in a busy ER.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Sounds like what happened when nurses had to take back the CNA role when primary nursing got turned into a scam to cut payrolls.

[bebbercorn]

Can you imagine playing both Doc and RN to 4 pts? I agree with Anna Flaxis... gong show. I max out at 4 pts as an RN in my ED and I can't imagine having to do the diagnostics as well.

[AnnaN5]

I think it is more than just NPs not wanting to do bedside care. Would you expect the MD/DO/PA to be the provider and bedside caregiver for patients in the ED? No so why would anyone expect that of NPs?

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Doesn't make much financial or logistical sense to make that kind of transition.

Sent from my iPhone.