Pediatric practice guidelines: implications for nurse practitioners

J Pediatr Health Care. 1999 May-Jun;13(3 Pt 1):105-11. doi: 10.1016/s0891-5245(99)90071-8.

Abstract

Practice guidelines are promoted as an important means of achieving high-quality, cost-effective health care. Nurse practitioners must understand what practice guidelines are and how they are developed and be willing to put them into practice. This discussion begins with a description of practice guidelines specific to pediatrics. The terminology used in reference to these "clinical tools" are differentiated and their historic and contemporary influences are summarized. The complexity of guideline development and attributes of a quality practice guideline are described. Finally, the pivotal roles nurse practitioners can play in putting guidelines into practice are suggested.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease / nursing
  • Chronic Disease / nursing
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Health Promotion / economics
  • Health Promotion / standards
  • Humans
  • Nurse Practitioners / economics
  • Nurse Practitioners / standards*
  • Pediatric Nursing / economics
  • Pediatric Nursing / standards*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Primary Health Care / economics
  • Primary Health Care / standards*
  • Primary Prevention / economics
  • Primary Prevention / standards
  • Quality of Health Care