Advanced Practice Nursing Paper

Credentialing from advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) perspective is defined as “furnishing the documentation necessary to be authorized by a regulatory body or institution to engage in certain activities and use a certain title” (Hanson, 2014). Credentialing is also define from a local institutional process that consider specific documentations for APRN before they assume the practice role as APRN within their facility. In health care system, credentialing ensures individuals meet required standards of practice and is prepared to perform those duties implied by the credentials. National certification and education are considered as part of credentialing for APRN to acquire basic level of competence to practice. (Hanson, 2014)

The purpose of this paper is to conduct an in depth exploration of the nursing care considerations of patients in a specific clinical area. Through the synthesis of prior knowledge, clinical experiences and skills, evidence based best practices, and care of patients a comprehensive care and teaching plan will be composed. Integration of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, combined with evidence-based research will provide confirmation of nursing process comprehension. The inclusion of reviewed literature will further support knowledge and understanding.

The APRN Consensus Model was released in July of 2008 to define advanced practice registered nurse, identify the titles to be used by APRNs, and define specialty area of practice. The Consensus Model also describes population foci, suggests a process for recognition of new APRN roles, and recommends requirements for implementation (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2010). The APRN regulatory model helps uniform scope of practice of APRN across the United States, which benefit individual APRN, enhance patient outcomes, and improve the quality of care. Consensus Model consists of Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education. The Education criteria in LACE Consensus Model relate to all APRN programs regardless of master’s or doctoral

In 2008, the coalition of members from the Alliance for Advanced Practice Credentialing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) created the Consensus Model for Advanced Practicing Registered Nurses (APRN’s). This model creates a framework for APRN’s in licensing, accreditation, certification, and education in the United States (Alleman & Houle, 2013). The establishment of this Consensus Model has developed a bases for the ARNP’s comprehensive knowledge base, ability for clinical reasoning, cultural, and ethical competencies, establishing a model of practice for ARNPs in which to follow. These concepts will be further discussed in this paper.

These organizations developed the Consensus Model document in 2008 to unify practice, identify APRN clinical roles, identify the acceptable titles to for NPs, and define the requirements for general practice and licensure. Note to mention that laws and regulations statute on the APN scope of practice may vary by states, whereas some adhere to full scope of practice, other to reduced practice, or restricted practice. For instance, the state of Florida defines advanced registered nurse practitioner as a licensed person with ability to practice professional nursing and certified to in advanced or specialized nursing practice (Buppert, 2011). The four advanced clinical specialized roles include certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse practitioners (Buppert, 2011). In terms of licensure, 46 states out of 50 require nurse practitioners to pass a certification exam. The Florida Board of Nursing requires certification by an appropriate specialty board and graduation from a program leading to a master’s degree (Buppert,

The purpose of this paper is to describe the role of health care reform with regards to the evolution and development of advanced practice nursing (APN) in the United States. Foundational aspects prominent in the development of defined APN roles include the health needs in society, support for innovation in health care, governmental health policy and regulation, health workforce supply and demand, and the development of advanced education, among other factors (Ketefian et al., 2001). APNs are comprised of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives,

According to the Texas Board of Nursing, the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a Registered Nurse (RN) who has finished an unconventional educational program that is acceptable to the nursing board, and performs autonomously or in partnership with other health care practitioners to provide quality healthcare services. The APRN titles used in Texas are; Clinical nurse specialist, Certified nurse anesthetist, Certified nurse practitioner, and Certified nurse midwife. All four APRN roles are recognized in the state of Texas providing healthcare to persons, groups and folks in several settings like hospitals, schools, public/private clinics and practices, homes, and offices. The term “licensure”

The historic article by Safriet (1992) fully lists and analyzes the major challenges facing the advanced practice nurse (APN). At the time the article was written compared to now, a few aspects are changing. In areas where change has occurred, it has been an exceedingly slow process. Change for APNs is often dependent on legislation and regulatory authorities which receives half-hearted support, at best, from the medical establishment (Safriet, 1992). Since the first day nurses were given any authority to practice outside of regular practice, physicians only objected when it began to encroach upon their perceived hierarchal status or potential for compensation (Hamric, Hanson, Tracy, & O’Grady, 2014). The concern that this

Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) covers four types: Certified Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Clinical Nurse Specialists.

For current and future needs we need to enable all healthcare professionals especially nurses to practice to the full level of their education and training. Advanced practice nurses can fulfill the primary care needs. This will free up physicians to address more complex cases which needs their expertise. Current practice focus on specialty and acute care only and a shift in practice to deliver more primary care and community care services is essential to improve the quality of nursing care and address the growing need of care in these areas.

The educational requirement for advanced nursing practice is a master’s level education in a program or track leading to APN licensure, including graduate degree-granting and post-graduate certificate programs with established educational standards and attainment of the APN core, role core and population core competencies (National Council of State Boards, 2012). APN’s acquire increased knowledge in the sciences of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. The core curriculum for the advanced practice role includes priorities in

DQ1: Debra, I can understand the separation of the advanced practice nurse (APN) roles compared to the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles from a definition standpoint, but I don’t agree that there should be a separation. Although I am an administrator, I still hold a license as a registered nurse (RN), and once I complete this program, I will have completed a master’s degree with the same core classes as the defined APRN degrees (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). I understand that the clinical portion of each of the APN programs have their own focus to better prepare the nurses for their specialty. To me this is much like a physician fellowship for specialization. But at the same time, as a nurse administrator with a master’s degree,

Advanced Practice Nurse’ is a term used to define nursing interventions that positively healthcare outcomes. It entails direct care of individual patients, administration of nursing in healthcare setups as well as the formulation and implementation of healthcare policies (Cusack, et al., 2013).

Bottum-Jones and Dopp (n. d) stated that “The graduate education serves as the background for NP preparation” (p. 2). In Wisconsin, an applicant must hold a master’s degree in nursing or a related health field from a college or university to qualify for the Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners’ (APNPs) certification (Buppert, 2011). The college or university attended by an applicant should be accredited by “a regional accrediting agency approved by the board of education in the state in which the college or university is located” (Buppert, 2011, p. 149). The nationally recognized advanced practice accrediting agencies include the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program [AANPCP], 2013).

The role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is expanding internationally throughout the healthcare system. Since the initiation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, there has been an increased need for APNs due to the growing demand for primary care services and increased population that have gained healthcare coverage (Lanthrop & Hodnicki, 2014). The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of APN and develop a professional development plan for my future career.