Point-of-Care Ultrasonography by Advanced Practice Providers for Patients With Undifferentiated Shock

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1. Reflect on the following question: What new knowledge or perspective do you hope to gain from this activity?

2. Review: Implicit Bias and its Impact on Patient Outcomes (License requirement for California)

Description

This evidence-based practice project evaluated implementation of advanced practice provider (APP)–performed point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) for patients with undifferentiated shock in a Central Florida ICU. A pre–post design compared 60-day baseline data with a 60-day post-training phase following focused, in-person POCUS education emphasizing clinical integration. Outcomes included time to intravenous fluid, vasopressor, or inotrope administration and impact on treatment decisions. Results demonstrated no significant difference in time to intervention between groups, indicating POCUS did not delay care. However, POCUS findings consistently informed, refined, or altered clinical decision-making, supporting diagnostic accuracy and targeted management. These findings align with existing evidence supporting APP-performed POCUS as a valuable adjunct in critical care. Sustainability plans include continued APP-led POCUS expansion across ICUs. Overall, POCUS enhances structured assessment and optimizes management without compromising timeliness of intervention.