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While pulmonary rehabilitation is registered in the COPD management guidelines with a high level of evidence, it is not adequately performed in accordance with patients' needs. Advanced nurse practitioners (IPA, in French) provide expertise enabling improved access and enhanced implementation of rehabilitation programs. Based on foreign experience, the present study has been designed to propose avenues for the development of more effective practices in France.Using Google Scholar and Pubmed databases, a search algorithm was used to identify international publications from 2003 to 2022 dealing with the role of nurse practitioners (IP, in French) in respiratory rehabilitation for COPD patients.Fourteen articles, mainly from English-speaking countries, were analysed. The involvement of nurse practitioners in pulmonary rehabilitation is very broad-based, their main missions being initial disease assessment, therapeutic education, improved professional sensitivity and patient follow-up at all stages of a rehabilitation program.Nurse practitioners have a major role in the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for COPD patients. Their involvement at different levels can improve access and success of programs over time.

Background : The integration of nurse practitioners into primary healthcare settings is highly complex, yet it has not been extensively studied with regard to broader socioprofessional changes occurring in health care.Objective : This study sought to examine the integration and negotiation of the role of nurse practitioners in interprofessional primary healthcare settings.Method : A critical ethnography framed by actor-network theory and Foucault's concepts of discourse and power was conducted in three different primary healthcare models in which semi-structured interviews (n=23 nurse practitioners), direct observation, and document analysis were performed.Results : Organizational aims, practice standards, nurse practitioners' right to self-determination, collaborative dynamics with physicians, and patient management were identified as integration factors that produced greater instability, needs for negotiation, and professional, identity, and moral difficulties for nurse practitioners.Discussion : The findings from this study challenge the widespread perception that the role of nurse practitioners lacks clarity and enable a renewed understanding of their integration process in primary healthcare settings.

For twenty years, the author has worked as an advanced nurse practitioner in a large general practice in the north of England. In pioneering times for these new nursing roles, she completed her training at university and alongside her doctor colleagues. In this article she looks back at this highlight of her career and describes the deployment of this practice in the United Kingdom.

Management Of amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis Management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis starts with diagnosis announcement which is straightaway followed by initiating neuroprotective treatment (riluzole). A quarterly-based management is proposed, coordinated by an ALS center in close collaboration with the general practitioner, home care organization, and a dedicated health network. Key point for efficiency of global care is to develop a coordination with a multidisciplinary approach, including the involvement of neurologist and physicians from different medical specialties, nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, speech language therapists, dietitians and psychologists. The assessments follow-up concern mainly motor impairments and physical disability, adaptations, nutritional and respiratory functions. Associated symptoms such as pain, spasticity, mood disorders have to be recognized and treated. Decisions about nutritional and respiratory assistive devices require a collaborative approach involving specialized practitioners and paramedical professionals. These decisions have to be anticipated (advanced directives) in agreement with the patient, the family and the trusted person. Along the disease's management, patients and their family may have support from a psychologist. Finally, home care organization requires the intervention of a social worker.Prise en charge du patient atteint de sclérose latérale amyotrophique. La prise en charge de la sclérose latérale amyotrophique (SLA) débute dès l’annonce diagnostique, et le traitement par le riluzole doit être instauré immédiatement. La prise en charge est multidisciplinaire, au mieux coordonnée par un centre SLA en articulation avec le médecin traitant et un réseau de santé dédié. Elle nécessite des bilans trimestriels. Les points clés de la surveillance portent sur les troubles moteurs, nutritionnels et respiratoires. La dimension rééducative (kinésithérapie, orthophonie, ergothérapie) est indispensable, ayant pour but la prévention et l’adaptation. Les symptômes associés doivent être reconnus, évalués et traités régulièrement. Les décisions de suppléance des fonctions vitales, nutritionnelle et respiratoire, nécessitent une démarche collégiale impliquant des professionnels médicaux et paramédicaux spécialisés. Ces décisions doivent être anticipées (directives anticipées) en concertation avec le patient, sa famille et la personne de confiance. Le patient et sa famille doivent pouvoir avoir accès, de l’annonce de la maladie à la fin de vie, à un suivi psychologique parallèlement à la relation médicale. L’organisation des soins au domicile nécessite une coordination professionnalisée du parcours de soins et l’intervention d’un assistant socio-éducatif.

There has been a research focus on physician adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs). However, there has been less research into nurse practitioner (NP) use of EMRs. The authors present findings on the adoption and use of EMRs by NPs arising from a survey of the patterns of NP practices in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The research reveals a high rate of NP adoption of EMRs, with 82% of respondents indicating that they were using the technology. However, only 19% of NPs were using fully electronic records while 63% were using hybrid records, with only components of the electronic record being available. Respondents were found to be using several EMR features and functions, namely patient demographics, clinical notes, medication lists, laboratory results, and patient problems. NPs' high rate of EMR adoption suggests that there is much to be learned regarding the effect of eHealth strategies on EMR adoption.L'adoption par les médecins de la tenue de dossiers médicaux électroniques (DME) a fait l'objet de nombreuses recherches. Toutefois, les recherches portant sur l'utilisation de DME par les infirmières praticiennes (IP) se font beaucoup plus rares. Les auteures présentent les résultats d'une étude portant sur les tendances relevées chez les IP œuvrant dans la province canadienne de la Colombie-Britannique, relativement à l'adoption et l'utilisation de DME. L'étude révèle un taux élevé d'IP travaillant avec des DME, 82 % d'entre elles indiquant qu'elles utilisent maintenant cette technologie. Cependant, seulement 19 % d'IP travaillent avec des dossiers entièrement informatisés alors que 63 % utilisent des dossiers hybrides, la partie électronique du dossier ne comportant que certains éléments. Les personnes qui ont répondu utilisent plusieurs fonctions électroniques, notamment celles permettant la gestion des données démographiques du patient, des notes cliniques, des listes de médicaments et des résultats de laboratoire ainsi que des données sur les troubles du patient. Le taux élevé d'adoption de cette technologie chez les IP suggère la nécessité d'étudier davantage les effets des stratégies de cybersanté sur l'utilisation de DME.

An observational prospective cohort study was conducted on 1,353 observations from a convenience sample of 311 long-term-care (LTC) residents to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse practitioner-led outreach program on the health outcomes, emergency department (ED) transfers, and hospital admissions of LTC residents. The results show that ED transfers by the NPs were 27% less likely to be non-urgent than transfers made by MDs (OR = .73; 95% CI .54-.97) and that ED transfers by the NPs were 3.23 times more likely to be admitted to hospital than transfers by MDs (OR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.17-8.90). These findings highlight the potential benefits of the NP-led outreach program for LTC residents and for the health-care system.Dans le cadre d'une étude de cohorte prospective observationnelle, 1 353 observations provenant d'un échantillon de commodité composé de 311 bénéficiaires de soins de longue durée ont été soumises à un examen visant à évaluer l'efficacité d'un programme d'extension des services dirigé par des infirmières praticiennes en ce qui a trait aux résultats sur la santé, aux transferts vers le service des urgences et à l'hospitalisation des bénéficiaires de soins de longue durée. Les résultats indiquent que les patients transférés au service des urgences par des infirmières praticiennes étaient dans une proportion de 27 % moins susceptibles d'être non urgents que ceux transférés par des médecins (rapport de cotes = 0,73; intervalle de confiance à 95 % de 0,54 à 0,97), et 3,23 fois plus susceptibles d'être admis à l'hôpital que ceux transférés par des médecins (rapport de cotes = 3,23; intervalle de confiance à 95 % de 1,17 à 8,90). Ces constatations ont permis de mettre en évidence les avantages possibles d'un programme d'extension des services dirigé par des infirmières praticiennes pour les bénéficiaires de soins de longue durée et le système de soins de santé.

The purpose of this study was to determine how Canadian nurse practitioners (NPs) rate their levels of therapeutic commitment, role competency, and role support when working with persons with mental health problems. A cross-sectional descriptive, co-relational design was used. The Therapeutic Commitment Model was the theoretical framework for the study. A sample of 680 Canadian NPs accessed through 2 territorial and 9 provincial nursing jurisdictions completed a postal survey. NPs scored highest on the therapeutic commitment subscale and lowest on the role support subscale. The 3 subscales were correlated: role competency and therapeutic commitment were the most strongly associated (r = .754, p.001). To have a positive impact on the care of persons with mental health problems, educators, policy-makers, and NPs need to assess and support therapeutic commitment, role support, and role competency development.Cette étude a pour objectif de déterminer la façon dont les infirmières praticiennes canadiennes (IP) déterminent leur degré d'engagement thérapeutique, leur compétence de rôle et leur soutien de rôle dans des contextes de travail avec des personnes atteintes de troubles de santé mentale. Un cadre descriptif transversal corelationnel a été utilisé. Le modèle d'engagement thérapeutique a servi de cadre théorique. Un échantillon de 680 IP canadiennes recrutées dans deux juridictions territoriales et neuf juridictions provinciales infirmières ont rempli un sondage envoyé par la poste. Les IP ont obtenu le score le plus élevé quant à la sous-échelle de l'engagement thérapeutique et le score le plus faible quant à la sous-échelle du soutien de rôle. Les trois sous-échelles ont été corrélées: la compétence de rôle et l'engagement thérapeutique affichaient l'association la plus élevée (r = 0,754, p0,001). Pour assurer un impact positif sur les soins aux personnes atteintes de troubles de santé mentale, les éducateurs, les décideurs et les IP doivent évaluer et soutenir l'engagement thérapeutique, le soutien de rôle et le développement de compétences de rôle.

The Naylor Report (2015) states that nurse practitioners (NP) are still underutilized in Canada despite positive evidence of their work and the benefits they provide to health systems and, more generally, the health of the population.Why are nurse practitioners not more actively involved in the Canadian health care system? A socio-historical literature review showed that there is overlap, interdependence or complementarity between the role of NPs and that of other health professionals and that this concerns their status, training as well as the scope of their practice. The development of an interprofessional collaborative approach, although supported by most professional nursing associations in Canada, is difficult to establish in NP practice and training.This article describes the emergence of the role of NPs in Canada and provides an update on the current status of their integration in the health system with reference to the Ontario example. It provides insight into the overlap and zones of complementarity or interdependence between NPs and other health professionals.In conclusion, the authors call for improved governance by the contribution of a new collaborative contract with other health professionals. This contract should be based on the interdependence of practices and the complementarity of roles between all health professionals including NPs.

In the United Kingdom, an advanced nurse practitioner can carry out consultations and write prescriptions in the same way as a general practitioner. Jenny Aston, a nurse for more than 30 years, works in a GP surgery in Cambridge. Here, she explains the role of nurses in the organisation of health care in the UK, and talks about her career and her missions as an advanced nurse practitioner.

Bien qu'il existe une abondante littérature scientifique sur les infirmières praticiennes spécialisées de première ligne (IPSPL), le soutien et les modalités d’encadrement de cette pratique restent très peu explorés. Au Québec, ces questions semblent d’autant plus importantes à étudier car la diversité des milieux de pratique, l’éloignement physique entre les acteurs-clés, le partage de l’encadrement et le cadre légal complexifient l’opérationnalisation de ce soutien. Par le biais d’une étude de cas multiples, ce mémoire propose une analyse des différentes structures d’encadrement et des mécanismes déployés pour soutenir le développement de la pratique IPSPL au Québec. Issu d’un projet de recherche plus large et multicentrique, ce mémoire de maîtrise a étudié trois milieux distincts par le biais de 18 entrevues auprès de professionnels de la santé et de gestionnaires. Grâce à un modèle en trois niveaux, les besoins en termes de soutien des IPSPL et des équipes ont été identifiés. Les principaux résultats de cette recherche démontrent la pertinence d’un encadrement par les acteurs de la Direction des soins infirmiers. De plus, le soutien aux professionnels des équipes qui incluent des IPSPL semble bonifié lorsque certaines structures organisationnelles sont présentes. Finalement, les comités décisionnels autour de l’implantation des IPSPL s’avèrent davantage bénéfiques lorsqu’ils tiennent compte de l’environnement et de l’expérience acquise par les milieux., Although there is an abundant literature on primary health care nurse practitioners (PHCNP), the optimal structures and practices to support PHCNPs remain largely unexplored. In Quebec, this issue needs particular attention because of practice settings diversity and physical distance between major key players. Furthermore, the supervision role that seems to be shared by multiple professionals and the legal framework add to the complexity of the implementation of support structures and practices. Through a multiple case study, this paper aimed to explore the managerial structures in place and to analyze the mechanisms deployed to support the development of PHCNP practice. Issuing from a larger scale multicenter research, this study analyzed three separate cases, totaling 18 interviews with health professionals and managers. Based on a three levels model built on the central concept of support, the needs of PHCNP and their teams have been identified. The main results of this research demonstrate the relevance of supervision by the key players of the Department of Nursing. In addition, the coordination between professionals seems enhanced when some organizational structures are implemented. Finally, decision-making committees linked to the implementation of PHCNP appear to be more useful when the environment and experience of the organizations are taken into consideration.

Consultations in the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) continue to climb regularly. Emergency Nurse Practitioner consultations have long been created in the English speaking countries. Since January 2013, an indepen- dent nurse consultation, under delegated medical responsibility, exists in the multidisciplinary PED of the Children's Hospital of Lausanne. The mean consultation time is the same as the medical consultation and the overall waiting time hasn't decreased yet. But a well definite working frame, a systematic approach, as well as the continual medical supervision possibility, make it a safe, efficient and appreciated consultation, by both patients and professionals.

In the dermatology consultation, at Cochin hospital, Paris, a nurse cooperates with a dermatologist in order to insure the clinical follow-up for high-risk melanoma patients. To adopt this innovative public health approach, the nurse has received theoretical, clinical and educational knowledge.

In order to obtain the state nursing diploma nurses must acquire a specific number of skills. Where does trust fit in? Although it is not implicit it forms the core of the nursing relationship with the patient and his or her family. This article presents the personal account of a private nurse practitioner.

To evaluate a nurse educational program for penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy (RP) based on intracavernous alprostadil injection (IAI).One hundred consecutive patients started IAI one month after RP under the supervision of a nurse practitioner (day 0). Patients performed the first injection (2.5 μg); they were advised to increase gradually the dose of alprostadil until having satisfactory erections. Patients having difficulties with IAI were called back by the nurse. They received a medical follow-up at the uro-oncology department at 6 months. We assessed at D0, D15 and at 6 months: the ability to complete the IAI, the occurrence of priapism, the injected doses, the recovery of sexual function (EHS and GAQ scores), and pain in erection (numeric rating scale).Eighty-one percent of patients were very satisfied with the educational program. On day 15, 93% of patients achieved IAI (mean injected dose: 5.2 μg). No priapism was noted. The treatment had ameliorated erections in 80% of cases (GAQ); 47% of patients had erections hard enough to allow penetration (EHS2) and 39% had sexual intercourses. Pain to erection (3.9/10 on average) represented a motive of request for recall for 2/3 of the patients. At 6 months, the dropout rate was 31%; mean pain level, EHS score and injected dose were respectively 3.2/10, 2.9/4 and 8.8 μg.The nurse educational program for penile rehabilitation after RP was associated with satisfactory rates of self-injection accomplishment and treatment observance. However, close and prolonged follow up was necessary because of post-IAI penile pain.

The allogeneic blood and stem cell program (ABSCP) at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, performs 75 transplants annually. Many patients live greater than 100 kilometres from the centre and require frequent visits to the hospital for posttransplant care. The weekly travel to clinic, combined with complex symptom issues and the overwhelming desire to be cared for in their home community, is a major burden to patients and care providers. Our team of oncology health professionals, led by the nurse practitioner on service, sought to determine whether telehealth videoconferencing would be a viable option as a care delivery model to meet the complex needs of our remote patients and care partners. We introduced telehealth into the ambulatory clinic as a pilot project in early 2005. Patients were selected based upon symptoms, therapeutic plan and geographical remoteness. Patient progress was monitored with a goal of transitioning patients from posttransplant hospital-based care to partnered self-care in their home communities. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the ABSCP telehealth program development using a patient case study, and to detail the clinical process improvements and overall program successes that have led to the integration of telehealth into everyday clinical practice as a viable service delivery option for patient-centred symptom management and treatment compliance with a geographically remote patient population.

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