Loretta Colvin1, Ann Cartwright2, Nancy Collop3, Neil Freedman4, Don McLeod5, Terri E Weaver6, Ann E Rogers7. 1. Clayton Sleep Institute, St. Louis, MO. 2. National Jewish Health Sleep & Behavioral Health Sciences Section, Denver, CO. 3. Emory Sleep Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. 4. Northshore University Health System, Bannockburn, IL. 5. Cape Fear Valley Sleep Center, Fayetteville, NC. 6. College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL. 7. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To survey Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Physician Assistant (PA) utilization, roles and educational background within the field of sleep medicine. METHODS: Electronic surveys distributed to American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) member centers and APRNs and PAs working within sleep centers and clinics. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of responding AASM sleep centers reported utilizing APRNs or PAs in predominantly clinical roles. Of the APRNs and PAs surveyed, 95% reported responsibilities in sleep disordered breathing and more than 50% in insomnia and movement disorders. Most APRNs and PAs were prepared at the graduate level (89%), with sleep-specific education primarily through "on the job" training (86%). All APRNs surveyed were Nurse Practitioners (NPs), with approximately double the number of NPs compared to PAs. CONCLUSIONS: APRNs and PAs were reported in sleep centers at proportions similar to national estimates of NPs and PAs in physicians' offices. They report predominantly clinical roles, involving common sleep disorders. Given current predictions that the outpatient healthcare structure will change and the number of APRNs and PAs will increase, understanding the role and utilization of these professionals is necessary to plan for the future care of patients with sleep disorders. Surveyed APRNs and PAs reported a significant deficiency in formal and standardized sleep-specific education. Efforts to provide formal and standardized educational opportunities for APRNs and PAs that focus on their clinical roles within sleep centers could help fill a current educational gap.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To survey Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Physician Assistant (PA) utilization, roles and educational background within the field of sleep medicine. METHODS: Electronic surveys distributed to American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) member centers and APRNs and PAs working within sleep centers and clinics. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of responding AASM sleep centers reported utilizing APRNs or PAs in predominantly clinical roles. Of the APRNs and PAs surveyed, 95% reported responsibilities in sleep disordered breathing and more than 50% in insomnia and movement disorders. Most APRNs and PAs were prepared at the graduate level (89%), with sleep-specific education primarily through "on the job" training (86%). All APRNs surveyed were Nurse Practitioners (NPs), with approximately double the number of NPs compared to PAs. CONCLUSIONS: APRNs and PAs were reported in sleep centers at proportions similar to national estimates of NPs and PAs in physicians' offices. They report predominantly clinical roles, involving common sleep disorders. Given current predictions that the outpatient healthcare structure will change and the number of APRNs and PAs will increase, understanding the role and utilization of these professionals is necessary to plan for the future care of patients with sleep disorders. Surveyed APRNs and PAs reported a significant deficiency in formal and standardized sleep-specific education. Efforts to provide formal and standardized educational opportunities for APRNs and PAs that focus on their clinical roles within sleep centers could help fill a current educational gap.
Entities:
Keywords:
advanced practice registered nurse; nurse practitioner; physician assistant; role; scope of practice; sleep; sleep center; sleep disorders; utilization
Authors: Loretta J Colvin; Ann Cartwright; Neil Freedman; Ann E Rogers; Kimberly D Vana Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2018-02-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Joy Sun; Miranda V McPhillips; Ker-Cheng Chen; Yinyin Zang; Junxin Li; Jessica Oehlke; Glenna S Brewster; Nalaka S Gooneratne Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2021-05-01 Impact factor: 4.062