Is There an NP On Board?
What started as an ordinary flight turned into a mid-air emergency. On JetBlue flight 41, a passenger suddenly became unresponsive and blue in the face. Thankfully, Melissa Hernandez, a nurse practitioner (NP) with UHealth Jackson Memorial Hospital was a passenger and called to aid in this crisis. Hernandez quickly moved to perform Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and flight attendants also came to their aid with a defibrillator. Within a few minutes, the passenger’s breathing was restored, and they were soon transferred to a nearby hospital, now stabilized.
As seen with Hernandez while on her flight to Columbia, NPs can be crucial in dire situations, seamlessly transitioning from everyday care to providing vital support in emergency and disaster settings. Hernandez’s quick actions highlight the NP’s role in emergency response, where they not only provide immediate care but also address both primary and acute needs.
Primary and Acute Care Delivery in Crisis Situations
As NPs also serve as advanced practitioners (APNs), they can especially improve patient acute care. A review recently published in Frontiers in Disaster and Emergency Medicine outlined the multiple benefits patients experience while under the care of advanced practitioners.
Improved Patient Outcomes
Medical complications are always a risk, but studies from the review reveal a decrease in complication rates as APNs implement their treatment plans. In specific cases, patients experienced fewer errors in prescribed medication and fewer instances of “hospital-acquired pressure injuries,” also known as HAPIs. Among medical mistakes, medication errors are one of the most common occurrences affecting over one million people every year. Meanwhile, HAPIs occur between 5% and 15% of patients, with the range increasing during stays in intensive care units. With APNs contributing to fewer instances of these medical complications, patients have an increased chance of experiencing improved outcomes.
Shortened Length of Stay
The review also saw a decrease in patient length of stay (LOS) across all observed studies. Patients going through a longer LOS could experience a higher risk of medical complications, such as hospital-related injuries that may not have occurred otherwise.
APNs also appear to have a positive impact on patient waiting times within the emergency department, another crucial aspect of patient care. According to a cohort study published in the medical journal BMJ, the rate of patient death increased alongside the increased length of stay within an emergency department.
By reducing both patient length of stay and waiting times, APNs play a vital role in minimizing the risk of complications and improving overall patient outcomes in critical care settings.
Increased Patient Satisfaction and Positive Outcomes
Not only do the decreased wait times influence patient wellness, but patients also experienced either a similar or lower mortality rate when treated by APNs in the ICU.
The review published in Frontiers also found high levels of patient satisfaction with APN care. When compared to care provided by physicians, patients reported similar levels of satisfaction with APNs, showing how APNs are just as impactful in emergencies.
These results show that APNs are a powerful force in emergency care and are capable of enhancing both outcomes and experiences for patients.
The NP’s Role in Emergency Response: A Lifesaving Force
In times of crisis, NPs, who often serve as APNs, play a critical role in providing both immediate and advanced care, as demonstrated by Melissa Hernandez’s quick response aboard JetBlue flight 41. The NP’s role in emergency response highlights their ability to seamlessly transition from routine care to life-saving interventions showing that NPs in their role as APNs are essential in both everyday and emergency settings, delivering impactful and compassionate care when it’s needed most.
