Incorporating nursing assistive personnel into a nursing professional practice model.

A pilot project evaluated the effect of incorporating nursing assistive personnel (NAP) into the existing nursing professional practice model at a tertiary care university medical center. A plan to use permanent, unit-based NAP was developed, implemented, and evaluated. Among the findings were a redistribution of selected nursing activities and conditions enhancing the integration of NAP to fulfill nonprofessional tasks and thus support the work of the registered nurse.