CAN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY NURSE PRACTITIONERS INTERPRET RADIOGRAPHS - A MULTICENTER STUDY

Objective-To assess the ability of nurse practitioners in accident and emergency (A&E) to interpret distal Limb radiographs, by comparison w ith senior house officers. Design-Nurse practitioners and senior house officers in 13 A&E departments or minor injury units were shown 20 ra diographs of distal limbs, with brief history and examination findings , and asked to record their interpretation. Outcome measure-A total sc ore for each subject was calculated by comparing answers against agree d correct responses. Results-Nurse practitioners in general compared f avourably with senior house officers. Those nurse practitioners who in terpret radiographs as part of their role in minor injury units perfor med as well as the experienced senior house officer group. Conclusions -Nurse practitioners in A&E are able to interpret radiographs to a sta ndard equal to senior house officers with three to five months' experi ence. Those nurse practitioners actively interpreting radiographs as p art of their role in minor injury units are able to interpret radiogra phs to the same standard as senior house officers with more than five months' experience.