A descriptive evaluation of the expanded-role nurse in high risk newborn care.

The expanded-role nurse concept was implemented by one nurse in a newborn intensive care center. A comparative evaluation was then conducted to described and compare the quality of primary care provided by the nurse to a representative group of high risk newborns with the primary care provided to similar group of newborns by pediatric interns. A chart audit was designed, involving ten neonatologists, to assess the adequacy of problem identification, problem management, and documentation of care in both groups. The quality of primary care provided by the nurse was demonstrated to be consistent with the usual standard of primary care in this setting.