Nurse Practitioner Placement in A Nursing Home in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the role of nurse practitioners (NPs) in a specialized nursing home for older adults in Japan. A retrospective medical chart investigation was conducted to compare the period before and after NP placement. Multilevel logistic regression analysis showed an increase in residents requiring care level 4 or higher (log odds ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-1.31), a decrease in emergency outpatient visits (log odds ratio = −0.74; 95% CI, −1.13 to −0.34), and a significant interaction term between emergency visits and hospitalizations after NP placement (log odds ratio = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.27-1.81). Our findings suggest that the placement of NPs contributed to the appropriate utilization of health care resources.