After patients were discharged to their homes, APNs
conducted targeted assessments to identify changes in
patients’ health status. APNs’ involvement throughout the
transition from hospital to home provided a safety net
designed to prevent medication and other medical errors
and assure accurate transfer of information. As a result of
advanced physical assessment skills, including expertise in
evaluating responses to therapy, APNs were able to identify
early signs of problems such as impending volume overload
and, in collaboration with patients’ physicians, implement
strategies to prevent the onset of symptoms or to minimize
their effects. Unless working under specific guidelines
unique to treating physicians, APNs collaborated with each
patient’s physician regarding adjustments in medications
and other therapies.