DESCRIPTION OF THE CLINICAL-PRACTICE OF ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN FAMILY-CENTERED EARLY INTERVENTION IN 2 RURAL SETTINGS

The purpose of this study was to describe the scope of clinical practi ce of advanced practice nurses who were involved in a project designed to increase access of families with at-risk and disabled young childr en, newborn to 3 years of age, to early intervention services in rural Washington State. The findings from this study are based on the retro spective review of records of clients seen by the advanced practice nu rses. Nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions were assigned to cha rt recordings. The most frequently occurring nursing diagnoses assigne d to parents were Altered Parenting, Altered Family Processes, Fear, N oncompliance, and Knowledge Deficit. The most frequently occurring nur sing diagnoses assigned to children were Impaired Physical Mobility, I mpaired Verban Communication, Altered Nutrition: Less than Body Requir ements, Sensory-Perceptual Alteration, and Altered Thought Processes. Categories of nursing intervention recorded most frequently were Monit oring, Planning and Information. Discussion of findings addresses the roles and reimbursement of advanced practice nurses who provide family -centered early intervention services in rural communities.