Cardiac surgery and the acute care nurse practitioner—“the perfect link”

Section Editor’s note: The role of the acute care nurse practitioner in caring for acute and critically ill patients is beginning to become more accepted. This success has come about for many reasons, one of which is having physicians “champion” the role. I have asked Dr. George Hicks to offer some insight into the value-added care provided by acute care nurse practitioners. Dr. Hicks maintains a busy cardiothoracic surgical practice where he collaborates with 10 nurse practitioners, including myself. He is a champion of the acute care nurse practitioner role. —Michael H. Ackerman, DNS, RN, CS, FCCM