Integrating Advanced Practice Nurses in Anesthesia to Tackle Gaps in Current Health Care: A Qualitative Study

Aging population and growing shortage of specialists present increasing challenges to anesthetic care. In Switzerland, advanced practice nurses in anesthesia are not yet integrated, despite their potential to contribute to innovative care models. This qualitative study explored current gaps in anesthetic care and assessed the potential role of advanced practice nursing in anesthesia. Semi-structured interviews were held with 46 participants, including patients, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologists. Data were analyzed using Mayring's summarizing content analysis. Patients emphasized "Information and Preparation Needs," "pain," and "recurrent hospital stays." Nurse anesthetists highlighted gaps in "making nursing care visible," "(interprofessional) practice development," and "pain therapy." Anesthesiologists identified challenges in "changes in anesthesia," the "treatment process," and "pain management." The results reveal relevant deficits in perioperative care, underscoring the need for sustainable solutions. Integrating advanced practice nurses into anesthesia could address these gaps by providing patient-centered preoperative support, fostering interprofessional practice development in the operating room, and providing clinical leadership in the postoperative recovery room and pain management. Advanced practice nursing in anesthesia is a promising strategy to sustainably improve the quality of perioperative health care.