Working in a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, has provided me with unique training in this patient population, and I have come to develop a strong passion for this specific community and pace of medicine. As an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), my goal is to continue to care for this patient population that I am familiar with and have grown to understand. The uniqueness of the Neurocritical patient population requires extensive care that an AGACNP can fully provide. The AGACNP role is built upon a strong foundation of nursing adding the expertise of advanced skills. The AGACNP career roots lie in that of a registered nurse with a continued education at the graduate level (Bell, 2012).
To legally practice as a Neurocritical …show more content…
The main providers of care in a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit are the Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, and Therapists (Neurocritical, 2014). The Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner is the main collaborator between all providers and this concept comes naturally to Nurse Practitioners due to their strength of open communication. Evidence has proven that “the addition of a Nurse Practitioner to a medical team ensured better clinical coverage of the critically-ill patients” (Fry, 2011, pg 60). Nurse Practitioners are habitually more available for patient families to communicate with, which provide families a sense of relief to have easy access to a provider and knowing the Nurse Practitioner has the family needs in mind. In a study by Fry that discussed the impact of nurse practitioners in critical care services, Nurse Practitioners spent the majority of their time in care coordination, communicating with patients and collaborating with the team (Fry, 2011, pg 59). The Acute Nurse Practitioner is a vital component to “well-functioning teams…in team effectiveness” and integration of true patient and family focus (Kilpatrick, 2013, pg 2642). The Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner must have strong communication skills that flow to direct family and patients …show more content…
My everyday routine would emphasize thorough physical exams, highlighting neurological assessments, managing medications, ordering and interpreting radiology findings, and monitoring lab levels (Neurocritical, 2014). The main diagnoses the Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner must be educated on in detail include subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, brain tumors, brain and spinal cord infections, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disorders, seizure disorders, and more (Neurocritical, 2014). Having Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit experience as a Registered Nurse, I would be extremely familiar and knowledgeable about all the above diagnoses and usual treatment associated with the specific neurological condition such as an external ventricular drains and tight blood pressure control with the titration of vasoactive and anti-hypertensive medications. As a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse I have experience in order entry, exposure to radiologic imaging, and high levels of constant critical thinking. Just as Neurocritical Nurse Practitioners have great autonomy, Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit RNs have a great deal of autonomy as well compared to RNs in other areas. As the Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner, I will manage these diagnoses and be confident in post-operative care if surgical
To legally practice as a Neurocritical …show more content…
The main providers of care in a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit are the Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, and Therapists (Neurocritical, 2014). The Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner is the main collaborator between all providers and this concept comes naturally to Nurse Practitioners due to their strength of open communication. Evidence has proven that “the addition of a Nurse Practitioner to a medical team ensured better clinical coverage of the critically-ill patients” (Fry, 2011, pg 60). Nurse Practitioners are habitually more available for patient families to communicate with, which provide families a sense of relief to have easy access to a provider and knowing the Nurse Practitioner has the family needs in mind. In a study by Fry that discussed the impact of nurse practitioners in critical care services, Nurse Practitioners spent the majority of their time in care coordination, communicating with patients and collaborating with the team (Fry, 2011, pg 59). The Acute Nurse Practitioner is a vital component to “well-functioning teams…in team effectiveness” and integration of true patient and family focus (Kilpatrick, 2013, pg 2642). The Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner must have strong communication skills that flow to direct family and patients …show more content…
My everyday routine would emphasize thorough physical exams, highlighting neurological assessments, managing medications, ordering and interpreting radiology findings, and monitoring lab levels (Neurocritical, 2014). The main diagnoses the Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner must be educated on in detail include subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, brain tumors, brain and spinal cord infections, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disorders, seizure disorders, and more (Neurocritical, 2014). Having Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit experience as a Registered Nurse, I would be extremely familiar and knowledgeable about all the above diagnoses and usual treatment associated with the specific neurological condition such as an external ventricular drains and tight blood pressure control with the titration of vasoactive and anti-hypertensive medications. As a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse I have experience in order entry, exposure to radiologic imaging, and high levels of constant critical thinking. Just as Neurocritical Nurse Practitioners have great autonomy, Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit RNs have a great deal of autonomy as well compared to RNs in other areas. As the Neurocritical Nurse Practitioner, I will manage these diagnoses and be confident in post-operative care if surgical