Education Research: Neurologic Education in Nurse Practitioner Programs: Results of a National Needs Assessment Survey.

Abstract

Background and objectives: A growing number of nurse practitioners (NPs) are entering neurologic practice. Postgraduate educational needs of NPs are partly dictated by previous neurologic educational experience, which is not well defined. We aim to describe neurologic education in NP programs to better inform efforts to develop tailored educational initiatives.

Methods: A website review was performed to identify accredited NP programs and program leaders. A previously developed survey designed to facilitate a description of neurologic education in physician assistant (PA) programs was adapted for NP program leaders by an iterative approach. The survey was distributed in spring and fall 2023.

Results: Three hundred and thirty-three Family NP, 140 Adult-Gerontologic Primary Care NP, and 136 Adult-Gerontologic Acute Care NP registered programs were identified. Leaders of 206 programs completed the survey (response rate = 34.9%). Two hundred four respondents (99.0%) reported neuroscience didactics included within their curriculum, typically contained within core, discipline-based courses. Neurologic disease and examination (n = 201, 98%) were covered most while lesion localization (n = 37, 18.0%) and neuroradiology (n = 50, 24.3%) were taught least often. Of 201 respondents who indicated that neurologic examination is included, 175 (87.1%) reported a hands-on approach. Didactic neuroscience instructors were specialized in clinical neurology in 109 programs (53.4%). One hundred sixty-nine programs (82.0%) offer a neurology clinical rotation, typically as an elective. Of respondents who provided an estimate, most reported that 10% or fewer of their students complete a neurology clinical rotation per year (n = 62, 77.5%). The most frequently reported barrier to offering clinical placement in neurology was lack of neurology preceptors (n = 85, 56.6%). Programs reporting graduates pursuing careers in neurology were associated with larger size, acute care track, and neurology NP as a didactic neuroscience instructor.

Discussion: Lesion localization and neuroradiology are important targets for postgraduate training of NPs entering neurologic practice. Recruiting neurology NPs to teach neuroscience didactics may increase programs with students pursuing careers in neurology. Availability of clinical neurology rotations is not universal in NP programs. Encouraging neurology clinicians, including PAs and physicians, to precept NP students could help increase access to clinical neurology rotations. These results highlight important opportunities for augmenting neurologic education during and after NP programs.