ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners (NPs) have a critical role in meeting the growing demand for health care in the current complex health care system. The use of NPs in both primary care and specialty settings is expected to rise significantly by 2025 in response to increased demands and a shortage of physician providers. METHOD: The Duke University School of Nursing, with funding from the Health Resource Services Administration, has implemented the first endocrinology specialty training program for primary care NP students. RESULTS: The first in the country, this innovative, hybrid training program prepares primary care NP students to manage complex diabetes mellitus and general endocrine conditions. CONCLUSION: Well-trained NPs can help meet the increased demands in primary care. This subspecialty certificate program provides a framework for other graduate nursing schools that are considering adding specialty content as a supplement to primary care training. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(8):506-509.].
Subject(s)
Diffusion of Innovation , Education, Nursing, Graduate/organization & administration , Endocrinology/education , Nurse Practitioners/education , Humans , Nursing Education Research , Nursing Evaluation Research , Primary Care Nursing , Program Development , Specialties, NursingABSTRACT
Influenza has a significant impact on the health of Americans and the U.S. economy. Annual influenza immunization can decrease the burden of influenza-related illnesses for both employees and employers. This project evaluated a nurse practitioner-led intervention to increase influenza immunization rates among retail employees from August through December of the 2015-2016 influenza season. The sample included employees from retail locations with on-site convenience care clinics staffed by nurse practitioners. This quality improvement project used a pre-post implementation evaluation design and compared influenza immunization rates of employees, before and after an intervention, at one worksite, and influenza immunization rates of employees, who did not receive the same intervention, at a comparison site. The intervention site employees were immunized at a higher rate than employees at the comparison site. Interventions, including health care professional-led education, program promotion, on-site access to and no-cost immunizations, choice of immunization delivery, and incentives, should be considered to increase immunization rates among employees.