The Role of Advance Practice Nursing - Essay Example

? APN Role Introductory ment The role of Advance Practice Nursing (APN) has become one of the prominent factors in context of the modern day health care scenario where the contribution of a nurse practitioner is considered equally significant in comparison to the other high level health care professionals (American College of Rheumatology, 2013; Jansen & Zwygart-Stauffacher, 2010). Contextually, this paper would analyse the core competencies of APN that enable them to deliver noteworthy results. Furthermore, the purpose of the paper would also comprise exploration of a particular research study related to the unique contribution of APN and deliver an outcome plan to enhance their treatment approaches. Core APN Competencies The APN is a group of nurse practitioners that includes nurses holding a post graduation in nursing as per the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) (Jansen & Zwygart-Stauffacher, 2010; APRN Joint Dialogue Group, 2008). The group ensures a vital role in the future of the health care industry. Contextually, it has been affirmed that there are certain core competencies that together form an efficient and effective APN nurse (Joel, 2013). They are illustrated in detail hereunder. Expert Coaching and Guidance An APN nurse should have the leadership skills to initiate guidance or mentorship in given point of time. This means the nurse should be able to put her vision into action while associating with a particular health care unit. He/she should also need to acquire the skills including proper education, expertise in clinical content and implementation of proper learning principles among others to incorporate the competency (Hamric, Hanson, Tracy & O'Grady, 2013; Bryant-Lukosius, DiCenso, Browne, & Pinelli, 2004). Consultation This is a vital competency to be acquired not only for APN but also for any other health care professional. Correspondingly, an APN should have the skills to develop an efficient team and work collaboratively with others. In this regard, the APN would need to respect the values and thinking of other nursing staffs and takes their assistance. Moreover, acquiring this competency will also require an APN to ascertain as well as to maintain proper interpersonal relationship with the subordinates (Hamric, Hanson, Tracy & O'Grady, 2013). Research Skills In accordance to these competencies, the APN should have the ability to research more and more with regard to derive a thorough understanding. In this regard, evidence-based programs of teachings and implementation of evidence-based literature for clinical practices would be vital aspects to be considered (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008). Clinical and professional leadership This competency of the APN requires the nurses to act as a change agent in certain cases and advocate for patients. Furthermore, he/she should require acting as a leader in certain circumstances, initiating any decisions of change (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008). Collaboration Working in collaboration with the members of the health is among the common competencies of an APN. Respecting the work and contribution of the colleagues is a prime requirement in accordance to this competency (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008) Ethical Decision-Making skills This is an integral part not only for APN but also for any other profession. APN’s should act as a moral agent by generating an ethical environment abiding certain principles and fidelity (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008). Summary of an APN Outcome Research Study The study of Cooke, Robin Gemmill and Marcia Grant (2008) naming “APN Core Competencies: A Framework for Developing and Testing an APN Discharge Intervention” depicts a vital aspects regarding APN significance. The APN concerning to the research study, conducted various self-care activities to examine the complications that arise in a discharge patient after transplantation. In this stand, it has been further discussed that, core competencies of APN like guidance, consultation, research skills, clinical leadership, collaboration as well as ethical decision making are important to deal with the depicted complication related to healthcare issues (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008). Thomas and Janice Hill consulted an APN i.e. Mary. In her first meeting with the patient, she implemented her competency of ‘expert coaching’ where she educated the patient and the family about their critical needs to be ensured as patient post transplantation. Furthermore, in her next visit she found out that Thomas was exhausted and finds everything at home quite irritating. She also depicted that Thomas was concerned about his driving which cannot be allowed for a patient within two to three weeks after transplantation. Mary with her competency of ‘clinical and professional leadership’ handled the situation quite well and convinced Thomas about not to drive for few more days without depicting the original reason, which was instability. Furthermore, with this competency of her, she examined certain vital aspects such as food preparation issues, signs and symptoms of any infection and right atrial catheter care among others. Moreover, with the implementation of her competency of research skills she instructed Thomas about an urgent visit to the heath care in case of visibility of any sort of symptom. These worked for Thomas when he has an itchy rash on his chest further enabling him to cure these rashes without much of a mental stress. Furthermore, Mary visits Thomas after his discharge from the hospital owing to a right atrial catheter. In this session, Mary implements her competency of ‘Collaboration’ and advice Thomas to meet with a social worker in order to deal with post transplantation depression. This approach of Mary improves psychological condition of Thomas upto an extent. In her next visit to Thomas, Mary implemented her competency of a ‘consultation’ where she depicted Thomas’s family about how to deal with this situation of post transplantation which especially includes their treatment with their children. This aspect further enhances the confidence of Thomas and his family to deal with the situation. Within few weeks after this visit, Thomas began to be stronger as before with his taste buds and energy began to reinfuse. In her last visit with Thomas, she analysed her health status and lifted most of the restrictions that tend to exist after post transplantation (Cooke, Gemmill & Grant, 2008). However, after a point of time Thomas relapses owing to certain other reasons. In this situation too, Mary acted as a responsible APN supporting the entire family of Thomas with her competency of ethical thinking. This case depicts the role and contribution of an APN after a patient is discharged. Efficiency as well as importance of an APN can be depicted from this case. Outcome Plan Problems Treatments Outcomes Stress, fatigue and irritation after discharge Educating patients about the after affects of discharge and instructs them about the necessary needs to be followed with the assistance of APN’s Patients to be more aware about their health condition post discharge and act accordingly in their daily life Desire to initiate any particular act immediately after discharge that might result inappropriately for health Convincing the patients through positive motivations without conveying the actual reason with the assistance of APN’s The patient would be able to hold back a particular desire that would in turn enhance his/her health status without any mental depression post discharge Symptoms of any infection or other health related issues post discharge Conveying these aspects to the patients and also instructing them about what to do in such circumstances with the involvement of APN’s The patient and his family could be able to deal with such situations without much panic which would further eliminate the probability of any negative results This plan depicts certain aspects that would be beneficial for patients after post discharge. It would also be vital to mention that an APN with all her quality and competencies would be able to execute this plan which can also be justified form the APN Outcome Research Study. The treatment depicted in the plan is quite different from that of a physician which mainly deals with medication and surgical operation. However, the treatment mentioned as per the APN competencies mainly deal with health education of a patients and their self awareness. Recommendations on Future of Nursing The analysis of the paper clearly depicts about the importance of nursing in the modern day health care industry. In this regard, the report on the future of nursing depicts that the role of nurses should be enhanced in this complex modern day health care sector. The outcome plan developed in this paper advocates for the increasing role of APN nurses in dealing with the post discharge complications with the patients. This aspect further ensures that the plan will mostly move in parallel with the initiatives of the future of nursing reports (American Nurses Association, 2013). Summary It can be summarise from the overall analysis that nursing practices has become one of the integral part of the modern day health care industry. This aspect has been further justified from the summarised article on the APN Outcome Research Study. The paper also came up with an outcome plan where the role of APN’s stands primary. Moreover, it has also been depicted from the discussion of the paper that the outcome come mentioned in the paper would move in parallel with that of the future of nursing initiatives owing to the similarity of goals between the two. References American College of Rheumatology. (2013). The role of the advanced practice nurse in the management of rheumatic disease. Retrieved from http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Healthprofessionals/The_Role_of_the_Advanced_Practice_Nurse_in_the_Management_of_Rheumatic_Disease/ American Nurses Association. (2013). IOM future of nursing report. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workforce/IOM-Future-of-Nursing-Report-1 APRN Joint Dialogue Group. (2008). Consensus model for APRN Regulation: licensure, accreditation, certification & education. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/APRNReport.pdf Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Browne, G., & Pinelli, J. (2004). Advanced practice nursing roles: development, implementation and evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 48(5), 519-529. Cooke, L., Gemmill, R., & Grant, M. (2008). APN core competencies: a framework for developing and testing an APN discharge intervention. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3097039/pdf/nihms-292348.pdf Hamric, A. B., Hanson, C. M., Tracy, M. F., & O'Grady, E. T. (2013). Advanced Practice Nursing: an integrative approach. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences. Joel, L. A. (2013). Advanced Practice Nursing: essentials of role development. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Jansen, M. P., & Zwygart-Stauffacher, M. (2010). Advanced Practice Nursing: core concepts for professional role development. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Bibliography Hambric, A. B., & Hanson, C. M. (2003). Educating advanced practice nurses for practice reality. Journal of Professional Nursing, 19(5), 262-168. Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-future-of-nursing-leading-change-advancing-health.aspx Read More