Introduction
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) convened a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Validation
Work Team and conducted a Delphi study to verify and gain consensus on professional
and clinical competencies for NPs in emergency care. This document describes entry-level
competencies for NPs practicing in emergency care, regardless of setting.
Methods
A Delphi study was conducted from September 2007 to May 2008 with a national sample
of credentialed NPs in emergency care. Using online questionnaires, three rounds were
sent to the NPs to reach group consensus. Participants were asked to rate the importance
and frequency of performance for each competency as well as list competencies they
felt were not addressed in the questionnaires.
Results
The list of competencies was reduced from 111 to 83. In 2008, a Consensus Panel Meeting
was convened to validate the Delphi study findings and gain consensus from amultidisciplinary
group of stakeholders. Several organizationsparticipated in the meeting (ie, AAEM,
AANP, AACN, ACEP, ACNP, ANA, ANCC, BCEN, CCNE, NCSBN, andNONPF). The stakeholders
approved a list of 60 entry-levelcompetencies.
Discussion
There are implications for NPs in the following areas: 1) education, for use in academic
settings as a foundation for curricula; 2) practice, emphasizing the unique aspects
of practice for the NP in emergency care; and 3) research, including the development
of advanced competencies for NPs in emergency care.
Key words
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Biography
K. Sue Hoyt, Work Team Chairperson, Member, San Diego Chapter, is Nurse Practitioner, Department of Emergency Medicine, St Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, CA.
Biography
Elizabeth A. Coyne, Member, Philadelphia Chapter, is Nurse Practitioner, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
Biography
Elda G. Ramirez, Member, Houston Chapter, is Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and Director of Post-Masters Emergency Concentration, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX.
Biography
Amy Smith Peard, Member, Tidewater Chapter, is Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Emergency Department, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk, VA.
Biography
Chris Gisness, ENA Board Liaison, Member, Metro Atlanta Chapter, is Nurse Practitioner, Emory University Department of Emergency Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA.
Biography
Jessica Gacki-Smith, ENA Staff Liaison, is Senior Research & Practice Associate, Emergency Nurses Association, Des Plaines, IL.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 14, 2010
Accepted:
May 1,
2010
Received:
March 31,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
