Flaubert, et.al. (2021) report the nursing profession to be “…the largest among all the health care professions and is nearly four times the size of the physician workforce.”. Over time, nursing has evolved and continues to do so. Beginning with hospital-based degree programs (Flaubert, et.al., 2021) to now requiring a degree after a rigorous academic program. It’s also important to note the modern push toward advanced practice degrees. There are many avenues nurses can take, depending on their individual goals, and all different levels of nurses support each other’s respective scopes of practice in an ongoing cycle.
Nursing is grounded in a holistic healthcare model aimed at monitoring, treating, and educating the patient. Psychosocial, spiritual, and all other considerations are added to the RN treatment plan through many daily duties. Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, offer basic but meticulous care to patients and look to build on the work of an RN or fill in the gaps in healthcare delivery when working directly with an NP. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice providers holding a master’s, doctoral, and, or Ph.D. degree but still face restrictive laws that limit and reduce how they can practice medicine. Twenty-seven states do not allow full practice autonomy to NPs (Flaubert, et.al., 2021) and, what many perceive to be the largest hurdle, prohibit NPs from prescribing medications without a physician’s authorization. Projected declines in the physician workforce over the next decade should provide ample opportunity for NPs to fill those roles, yet if there are practice and scope restrictions, there will still be a shortage in healthcare access and delivery.
Standard 12 states, “The registered nurse seeks knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice and promotes futuristic thinking.” (American Nurses Association (ANA), 2015). In the context of scope of practice, nurses, of all skill levels, are encouraged to maintain their competencies and build on each other’s skills. Continuing education (CE) credits are helpful tools for LPNs and RNs alike while attending conferences and reviewing current literature are also expected on top of annual CEs for NPs.
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice, third edition. Essential Documents of Professional Nursing. https://www.nursingworld.org/~4af71a/globalassets/catalog/book-toc/nssp3e-sample-chapter.pdf
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.) Three Types of Nurses and What They Do. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/types-of-nurses/
Flaubert, J., L., et.al., (2021). National Academies Press. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lib/gcu/reader.action?docID=6697061&ppg=92