"Rounding" Nurse?

[NeuroNP]

I have a question for everyone. I used to have a friend that was an RN who worked for a local Cardiology group as a "Rounding" Nurse. She rounded with the docs on all their patients, did some dictation, answered pages for the docs (usually when they were in the cath lab or otherwise tied up) using protocols for certain common problems, and saw patients in the ED/Floor to get the workups started (usually when they needed to get prepped for cath).

She wasn't an NP and didn't function as one, but had a pretty good amount of autonomy thanks to the good relationship with the docs. Has anyone ever heard of this type of situation before or had any experience with it?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yes - our hospital used to have such nurses. Now, however, they are required to be a CNS or NP - in other words, an advanced practice nurse. I think this is a good idea - you have the education to then back up your decisions.