NR 500 Week 2 Assignment: Roles in Advanced Practice Nursing
2020
Roles in Advanced Practice Nursing
It takes commitment to become an advanced
... [Show More] practice nurse. It requires the advancement of your education to a master’s degree, which costs a lump sum of money. In the past years, you were required to have a certification in order to advance your education but currently, you must have passed through a graduate program. Taking the direction of a master's degree opens more opportunities for the advanced practice nurse because you acquire more skills and competencies in your area of specialization (Woo et al., 2017). The knowledge acquired helps in conducting research, implementing the evidence-based practice, and providing leadership that helps in ensuring patients are provided with the best safe care in accordance with the recent evidence. The APNs are provided with the national licensure examination, which helps in evaluating their competency and knowledge in delivering health care services to the patients.
To become an advanced practice nurse, you are supposed to go beyond the knowledge of a registered nurse, which helps in enhancing your knowledge and competency in providing quality and safe nursing care services to the patients. At times, it is difficult to transition from being a registered nurse to being an APN. The transition exposes you to different autonomy and makes you fell unexperienced despite the fact that you were once confident of your skills when you were registered, nurses. APN exposes you to a new level of knowledge and autonomy. In every step of the transition, you desire to have a mentor who will help you in your walk through the APN education just to ensure you are successful. APN have different areas of specialization, but what interested me the most is becoming a CNP.
Four APN roles
The APN Consensus Model states that there are four APN roles, which include the certificate registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), clinical nurse midwife (CNM), and clinical nurse practitioner (CNP). The APN roles are different because it entails different education program, different responsibilities at the workplace, and different working environment. The only unifying factor of the four roles is that all must go through RN training and should acquire both APN and RN licensure as well as advance their education to the master's level. In most states in the United States, APNs are allowed to prescribe medication for their patients.
CNP
The CNP can specialize in different areas of their education that will allow them to work in various work environments such as pediatrics, acute care, mental health, family practice, and reproductive and gynecological health (Lane et al., 2017). The CNPs ensure the patients are provided with comprehensive care, which is done through a comprehensive assessment of the patient, requesting for laboratory tests and screening, diagnosing, and managing the condition of the patient. The CNPs are able to manage both chronic and acute conditions. The main focus of the CNP entails disease prevention and health promotion. Depending on the preference of the CNP, they can work in either primary care or the acute setup.
CNS
CNS work to ensure the care of the patients is integrated throughout the continuum of care with the help of the nurse, patient, and the healthcare system. Their areas of specialization can be mental health, pediatrics, reproductive, and gynecological health among the women, neonatal, and family health, just like the CNP (Woo et al., 2017). The CNS always ensures that there is better leadership in the community and the outpatient setup. Their main objective is to ensure that quality improvement is consistent primarily in the care delivered by the nurses to their patients.
CRNA
The CRNA focuses on providing care to the patients who are going through anesthesia procedures and also administer anesthesia in the operating room. Besides, they prescribe both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapy to the patients in the operating room and outside (Lane et al., 2017). The CRNA undergoes intensive training and education in a master's education program. They can provide their anesthesia services in the operating rooms and the emergency department as well as outpatient departments such as a dental office where the patients require minor surgeries.
CNM
The CNM focuses on reproductive and gynecological care for both men and women. They provide antenatal, preconception, and postnatal care to the woman (Woo et al., 2017). Besides, they ensure treatment and referrals of patients who come with complaints of fertility. For the postnatal mothers, the CNM ensures care for both the newborn and the mother to avoid pauperism and postpartum disorders. They also help in diagnosing and managing STIs as well as reproductive care for the men.
AS an APN, you require to have the RN and APN license as well as the advancement of education for you to practice in either of the four roles of APN. You have to go through a master's education for you to acquire the necessary competencies and acquire the APN license. The education program requires an individual to do specific courses such as health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Apart from the classwork, you have to conduct all your clinical hours for specific areas as per the education program. Finally, you will have to do and pass the national certification examination for you to acquire a license to practice as an APN.
The rationale for choosing the CNP role
Everyone has their reasons for choosing to do the CNP role, for me, as choose the specialization because I wanted to practice at the outpatient setup where I could apply my leadership skills and ensure patients acquire the quality health care services. At the outpatient, I will be able to impact the health of the patients through health education, and consistent follow up on patients with chronic disease, hence improve their health outcome. Apart from managing the current acute conditions that the patients present with at the outpatient department, you are able to help the patients prevent further complications from the disease through early detection and management of health conditions and patient education.
I have worked in the health facility for five years, and it was a good experience working at the outpatient department because it allowed me to check on the long term care of the patients. Besides, it enables an individual to build a trusting relationship with the patient, which enables for better health outcomes for the patient (Dixon, 2018). It is exciting to be able to impact the lives of patients who present in the outpatient department with various health problems. It is more exciting to see patients whom I care for at the outpatient, getting well, and going back to their daily activities while verbalizing health and wellness improvement in every follow-up.
Plan for clinical practice
Now I am not certain of the exact thing that I will do after my graduation, but I am sure various options are awaiting me. It is always my dream to work in a hospital outpatient setting that will allow me to interact with the patient’s one on one and build a long-lasting relationship. I love seeing chronically ill patients getting better and having improved health and wellness. Besides, it would be a great favor on my side to work on a fixed schedule that runs from 8 am to 5 pm and be off the workplace over the weekend. Working from the outpatient setting will allow me to have such as work schedule. Since I began to read about the APPN roles, my understanding has completely changed because it has enlightened every role of different APNs. I have learned the different roles of a CNP and the value of acquiring a master's degree with a specialization in CNP. Having a clear distinction between the four roles of APN enables an individual to choose the best area that suits their desires and the dream for their future profession. For me, it has provided clear information on the roles that I sued to doubt before, such as prescription of medication and have increased my confidence in pursuing CNP.
Role transition
It is extremely challenging to transition from the role of being an RN to being a CNP. It entails a change of autonomies, which require comprehensive and advance knowledge and skills (Woo et al., 2017). Previously, you were used to taking up the roles of RN, which were very broad and could practice from any health facilities, CNP entails specializing in your area of interest. The transition process predisposes one to anxiety, role ambiguity, stress, inadequacy, anxiety, and at times being overwhelmed.
Several factors influence the transition of an individual to APN roles. One of the positive factors is having supportive friends, family members, and colleagues’ help in reducing anxiety and stress related to the transition process. Besides, having a mentor who keeps motivating you helps in maintaining your confidence throughout the transition period. Having experienced fellow CNPs helps in seeking advice and direction concerning the profession and in guiding you in times of difficulties (DeNisco & Barker, 2015). Confidence is another crucial factor that enhances a smooth transition. Having confidence in my knowledge and competencies during clinical practice will enhance better coping.
Most of the time, it is challenging to transition from one role to another. However, having good strategies for the transition process will help immensely. One of the strategies is to ask and conduct research. In a situation where I do not understand something, I will inquire from my colleagues and the mentor. Besides, I will ensure I conduct further research on the particular issue to help in improving my understanding of the current information. Secondly, it is essential to acquire skills from the clinical hours because the preceptor is always there to help in times of difficulty. The same strategy of asking and researching will apply in the clinical practice. The skills acquired in the clinical hours will be not only helpful in the transition process but also clinical practice in the future.
Conclusion
To become CNP takes confidence in advancing ones education. The processes can be extremely difficult at times because of the intensity of education and the cost, but it is always rewarding. Having a clear distinction between the four roles of APN enables an individual to choose the best area that suits their desires and the dream for their future profession. The four roles of APNs have helped in expanding my understanding of CNP and have increased my confidence in the profession. It is my desire to serve patients from the outpatient setting. The transition process can be challenging, but with the help of my colleagues, mentor, and family, I am sure I will transit successfully.
References
DeNisco, S. M. & Barker, A. M. (2015). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Dixon, S. (2018). Analyzing the Role of Advanced Practice Nursing in the Philippines: A Systematic Literature Review.
Lane, R., Halcomb, E., McKenna, L., Zwar, N., Naccarella, L., Davies, G. P., & Russell, G. (2017). Advancing general practice nursing in Australia: roles and responsibilities of primary healthcare organizations. Australian Health Review, 41(2), 127-132.
Woo, B. F. Y., Lee, J. X. Y., & San Tam, W. W. (2017). The impact of the advanced practice nursing role on the quality of care, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost in the emergency and critical care settings: a systematic review—human resources for health, 15(1), 63. [Show Less]