Evaluation of the role of the neonatal nurse practitioner in resuscitation of preterm infants at birth.

BACKGROUND: Changes in the work patterns and numbers of medical staff in training grades pose a significant challenge to those responsible for the provision of an effective clinical neonatal service. Advanced neonatal nurse practitioners (ANNPs) may have a role in this changing neonatal service. The effectiveness of the ANNP has been established in North America but has not been properly evaluated in the United Kingdom.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of ANNPs in resuscitation of preterm babies at birth against the standard set by junior medical staff.

SETTING: Regional neonatal intensive care unit.

METHOD: Retrospective analysis of resuscitation details, other basic data, and clinical outcomes of 245 preterm (< 33 weeks gestation) babies born in Liverpool Women's Hospital between January 1998 and April 1999.

RESULTS: Resuscitation teams led by ANNPs provided the same resuscitation interventions as those provided by medically led teams. Although babies resuscitated by ANNP led teams were no more likely to be intubated, they were intubated more quickly and received surfactant sooner (p = 0.0001) than babies resuscitated by medically led teams. Babies attended by ANNP led teams were less likely to be hypothermic on admission to the neonatal unit (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION: ANNPs are effective in the resuscitation of preterm babies at birth.