Abstract
The importance of hypertension as a risk factor and the size of the hypertensive population have created a demand for care of this problem. Nurse practitioners are effective managers of simple hypertension; however, high blood pressure often coexists with other chronic illnesses. Data are not yet available to support the role of the nurse practitioner in the management of more complex patients. The authors have examined the characteristics of patients and the processes and outcomes of care in a hypertension clinic in which physicians and nurse practitioners share responsibilities for patient care. The results show that the nurses are managing patients as complex as those seeing only physicians and are achieving better blood pressure control. The nurses successfully identify important problems and refer appropriately. Thus, nurse practitioners, with physician support, can serve as primary managers for even complex patients. Use of this model will significantly increase the resources available for care of hypertension.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Burkett G. L., Parken-Harris M., Kuhn J. C., Escovitz G. H. A comparative study of physicians' and nurses' conceptions of the role of the nurse practitioner. Am J Public Health. 1978 Nov;68(11):1090–1096. doi: 10.2105/ajph.68.11.1090. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark A. B., Dunn M. A nurse clinician's role in the management of hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 1976 Aug;136(8):903–904. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Diers D., Molde S. Some conceptual and methodological issues in nurse practitioner research. Res Nurs Health. 1979 Jun;2(2):73–84. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770020205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hill M. N., Reichgott M. J. Achievement of standards for quality care of hypertension by physicians and nurses. Clin Exp Hypertens. 1979;1(5):665–684. doi: 10.3109/10641967909068631. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McLaughlin F. E., Cesa T., Johnson H., Lemons M., Anderson S., Larson P., Gibson J. Nurses' and physicians' performance on clinical simulation test: hypertension. Res Nurs Health. 1979 Jun;2(2):61–72. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770020204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Perry H. M., Jr, Schnaper H. W., Meyer G., Swatzell R. Clinical program for screening and treatment of hypertension in veterans. J Natl Med Assoc. 1982 May;74(5):433–444. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ramsay J. A., McKenzie J. K., Fish D. G. Physicians and nurse practitioners: do they provide equivalent health care? Am J Public Health. 1982 Jan;72(1):55–57. doi: 10.2105/ajph.72.1.55. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Runyan J. W., Jr The Memphis chronic disease program. Comparisons in outcome and the nurse's extended role. JAMA. 1975 Jan 20;231(3):264–267. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sullivan J. A. Research on nurse practitioners: process behind the outcome? Am J Public Health. 1982 Jan;72(1):8–9. doi: 10.2105/ajph.72.1.8. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Watkins L. O., Wagner E. H. Nurse practitioner and physician adherence to standing orders criteria for consultation or referral. Am J Public Health. 1982 Jan;72(1):22–29. doi: 10.2105/ajph.72.1.22. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]