The role of the vascular access nurse practitioner in developing evidence, promoting evidence-based vascular access practice and improving health services

Abstract

Complications and failure of intravascular devices place significant burden on nursing workloads, patient outcomes and the health care system. The development and implementation of evidence to improve clinical practice surrounding the insertion and management of intravascular devices is an ongoing challenge to which nurse practitioners (NPs) in vascular access can respond. NPs use their clinical expertise to lead practice, facilitate change and monitor effectiveness of interventions to prevent complications. This places NPs in an ideal position to incorporate research into practice and lead the development of new research. But the demands and recency of the role means that NPs frequently find themselves inadequately prepared to lead the development and implementation of new research. Collaborative relationships between NPs and academic researchers, scientific and clinical staff are necessary to promote effective and efficient health services, research and nursing practice. This is especially evident within the field of vascular access. Together, such collaborations are able to create and share knowledge that has meaning for the practitioners, to optimise the NP’s role, and provide a bridge to overcome gaps in knowledge translation and evidence implementation. This paper aims to explore the research aspects of the vascular access NP role within the context of multidisciplinary health research collaborations. It uses a case study of an NP involved in a health research collaboration within the vascular access specialty to illustrate this development, and further describes the potential impact of NPs upon evidence-based practice development.