Advanced Practice Nurses and their Role in the Dynamic Healthcare Environment
Healthcare in the United States faces many challenges, including a shortage of professionals, rising costs, an aging population, access to care, and the demand for advanced techniques and technology. Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have the skills to respond to the dynamic healthcare environment. The reason is that APNs have a key role in meeting the patient’s holistic needs by building knowledge and contributing to a sustainable and effective healthcare system. Despite a collective objective, advanced nursing practice varies from state to state. Even though APNs are specialists in their respective fields with roles that extend beyond applying clinical competencies, they are also leaders in their organizations and communities.
Advanced Practice Roles in Nursing
Advanced practitioners are professionals with graduate-level education, training and clinical experience that help them meet the complex needs of patients and ensure efficiency in the healthcare system. The minimum degree requirement for becoming an APN is a postgraduate diploma in nursing. The degree is a Master of Science in Nursing that leads to various specializations, such as advanced family practitioner, gerontology nurse practitioner and acute nurse practitioner, among others.
APNs focus on clinical outcomes by providing direct and indirect patient care through supportive and consultative roles. For example, APNs play an essential role in establishing clinical guidelines and using evidence-based approaches to provide expert support in facilitating the development of the healthcare information system. For example, APNs in primary care settings demonstrate independence in the diagnosis and integration of diagnostic tests, prescription of medicines, as well as specific procedures within their legislative scope.
As stated, APNs are advanced practitioners who specialize in delivering care to a given population domain. Practitioners have advanced training in their respective fields of specialization that allows them to focus on clinical roles. The role differs from advanced nursing practice, which is a level of practice rather than a specialty. The role is common among registered nurse professionals, who operate in advanced roles other than traditional nursing roles. However, the scope of ANPs depends on the scope of practice for a nurse at the point of registration. The reason is that the scope of practice for nurses is dynamic and has changed over the years.
Advanced Nursing Practitioners require advanced training in the clinical setting or academics. The reason is that for them to operate beyond the traditional scope of nursing, the practitioners must demonstrate the experience that can allow them to work with minimal or no supervision when diagnosing, interpreting and prescribing medicines, as well as performing complex procedures in various clinical settings. As a result, APNs are a part of the role encompassing advanced nurse practice.
I aspire to be a Family Nurse Practitioner – a role that provides advanced care throughout the lifespan and across all genders. The role is important in the healthcare system, particularly in primary care settings. As an FNP, I strive to engage patients in their care, helping them understand their health conditions and offer practical measures for improving their well-being. My competencies in leadership, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills will help me to provide effective care delivered with a high degree of autonomy.
I will demonstrate leadership by initiating change to improve client, organizational and system outcomes. Critical thinking skills will help me understand and synthesize nursing knowledge in research and clinical expertise to meet the needs of the patients. Furthermore, my critical thinking and interpersonal skills will help me integrate knowledge from other disciplines and work with other health professionals to improve patient care. As a result, the skills will help me work professionally and ethically in delivering care and addressing non-clinical matters in different healthcare settings.
AP Interview
The AP I interviewed lives in Hialeah, Florida and works at the Community Health Group. The organization operates different medical centers certified as level-three patient-centered medical homes. The interviewee’s name is Jorge, an FNP who works in primary care. As an FNP, Jorge is qualified to manage a range of health conditions and diagnose and offer prescriptions for mild health complications for both genders.
I also intend to work as an FNP in Florida, and since it is a requirement, I must be knowledgeable in the state regulation for practice. To qualify as an advanced practitioner, he/she must be a registered nurse practitioner in the state, although both can be applied simultaneously. Applicants must have completed a master’s or post-master degree certification. Furthermore, applicants must have a national advanced practice certification to be eligible for the state license. A fundamental requirement for all nursing practitioners is to be persons of integrity. As a result, the state requires that practicing nurses and applicants not be convicted of any felony or crime within the state or at the federal level. Additionally, practitioners should not be convicted of abusing controlled substances.
FNPs must also be a part of a professional organization that guides their code of conduct and professionalism. At the state level, there are several available professional organizations for FNPs, including the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, formerly Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, Florida Nurses Association, Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nursing or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners at the national level.
The Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, formerly Florida Council, is a major professional organization in Florida; the organization advocates for removing legislative barriers that prevent APs from delivering quality care and practicing within their scope of training. The organization seeks to pursue interests that benefit the public in accessing affordable and quality care within the state. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners seeks to empower nurse practitioners in the country to advance healthcare quality through education, practices, research, and advocacy.
Other than joining professional organizations, FNPs must demonstrate certain competencies that will help them acquire certification to practice. Competencies are specific skills, knowledge, judgment and personal attributes required for FNPs to practice safely and ethically. FNPs are advanced practitioners who use clinical experience and research to develop progressive assessment and interventional strategies to impact the well-being of patients.
FNPs advocate for individuals, families, and communities by providing treatment and promoting policy decisions that influence the quality of life. As a result, they have excellent interpersonal skills that allow them to collaborate and communicate effectively with clients and other health practitioners. FNPs must understand the limitations of their competence and be able to collaborate with other medical professionals when they face challenges beyond their scope of operation. As a result, there is a need for ANPs to develop a professional network that helps them address emerging policy issues and clinical matters within their field of competence.
As an FNP, I plan to work in a primary care facility in Hialeah, Florida. The reasons are that it is close to where I live and I am very familiar with the State regulations. I also aim to work at a primary care facility because of its significance in the healthcare system. Primary care settings provide the first contact and continued care for persons with undiagnosed health concerns. It allows me to participate in health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance and patient education, diagnosis, and treatment of acute health conditions.
Physicians perform and manage care in collaboration with other health professionals at the primary care facility. However, with the increased role of APNs, I will also be responsible for providing direct care to patients of all ages, both men and women. As a result, I will work with expectant mothers and their newborns throughout their lifespans. I will also work with their spouses and other male patients, either by providing direct care or health education for them to be able to provide psychological support to expectant mothers.
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