Nurse Practioners Play a Huge Role in Health Care in Canada

Nursing is known to be one of the most challenging careers, owing to the tough responsibilities that nurse practitioners are charged with and the immense sensitivity of their role (Li, 2013). Both Registered nurses and nurse practitioners work together monitoring a range of patients’ health and providing them with adapt care needed within their scope of practice. However, the roles and the responsibilities they bestowed are different. Creating a balance between a tough job and the extremely sensitive wellbeing of a patient, which lies in the decisions that a nurse practitioner makes, does surely propel one to the pinnacle of clinical nursing. As they carry out this sensitive role, they are also expected to be active in a wide range of other areas, including research, education, policy, and clinical governance. It is true that the working environment in which they work, to a considerable extent, does not provide the flexibility needed by nurse practitioners in an effort to carry out these complex roles, but they somehow have shown they are able to achieve this (Fleming & Carberry, 2011). This essay looks to justify the claim that nurse practitioners are the pinnacle of clinical nursing drawn from evidence from existing literature. It will demonstrate the roles and responsibilities a nursing practitioner holds a higher expectation than a registered nurse. It is also argued though that there is immense pressure on registered nurse, making the nurse practitioners role not as

A profession can be defined as a “prestigious occupation with a high degree of identification among its member that requires a length and rigorous education in an intellectually demanding and theoretically based course of study; that engages in rigorous self-regulation and control; that holds authority over clients; and that puts service to society above simple self interest” (Schwirian, 1998, p. 6). Nursing is just that, and with its specific body of knowledge, standards, and codes of ethics, it is only fitting that it be self-regulated (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2012). The College of Nurses works with registered nurses, registered practical nurses, and nurse practioners to determine whether or not standards and best practices are met and that the public’s safety is protected.

Professional nursing practice has been developing for several centuries. Nursing as a profession can be traced back to the early Christian era. Since then the perception of nursing practice has changed significantly. “Nursing is caring, commitment, and dedication to meeting the functional health needs of all people” (Craven &

“Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (ICN 2010)

There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster

Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The rate of immigrant as a health care professional has increased significantly in past 20 years however; there is still shortage of health care providers in the first nation’s community. Health care professional often does not want to work in these areas due to extreme weather condtions, less social interaction, and family problems. The video nursing in a first nation’s community is very inspiring; despite various challenges their commitment to work in the first nation’s community is tremendous. I agree with the nurses working in these communities as nursing in these areas is very demanding, sometimes nurses have to beyond their nursing skills and lack of resources also makes

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)

In order to apply for prescriptive authority in Indiana you must submit proof of and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license, the nursing program will then submit an official transcript to the Indiana State Board of Nursing showing successful completion of the graduate program. The college that the graduate program is completed needs to be accredited by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation. It is also required to submit proof of successful completion of graduate level pharmacology course consisting of at least two semester hours, and written practice collaborative agreement (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, n.d.). If you received a bachelor 's degree rather than a graduate degree, you must submit proof of current national certification (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, n.d.). APNs with

The procedures to establish creditability and acknowledgement to practice autonomously as a NP initially include having a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) followed by a master’s degree nursing education, accreditation, licensure, credentialing, and certification (American Nursing Association, 2015). The Department of Consumers Affairs (2015) specified that “each individual must first have a California registered nurse license before obtaining the certificate and the application process includes certification by a national organization/association whose standards are equivalent to those set forth in the California Code of Regulations Section 1484” (p.1).

All accredited educational programs include didactic learning that includes advanced assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology and clinical experience gained through rotations and preceptorship. APN’s complete master’s degrees or post master’s programs in preparation for certification. Certification is granted by The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Certifications are earned in adult and family, acute care, pediatrics, psychiatric, gerontology and women’s healthy specialties. APN’s are licensed by individual state boards of nursing and they are certified in advanced specialty areas. APN’s have prescriptive authority in all 50 states and can practice without direct physician supervision in several states. They work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, schools, colleges and urgent care facilities. APN’s must recertify every five years with 1000 hours of clinical practice and 75 continuing education hours in the area of

To provide a representative and informed nursing opinion on Canada Health Act, Katherine could access to resources such as Fact Sheet: Legislation and regulation, an introduction to the Nursing Act, 1991 provided by CNO (2014b), Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 provided by Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (n.d.), and

According to the Texas Board of Nursing (2008), nurses who receive advanced nursing preparation, may practice in roles and fields, such as academics, technology, community health, education, and management that are crucial to advance the health of the community, however the fields does not focus on direct care of individuals and their nursing practice does not require regulatory recognition outside the Registered Nurse license. The CNE filed is one of the advanced nursing practices that fall into that category. NEs must work with all institutional stakeholders to create effective and long-term healthcare change, therefore, lifelong learning and education is needed to remain competent to produce positive patient outcomes. Texas Board of Nursing

Nurse practitioners (NPs), or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), play an essential role in the growing complexity of the healthcare system. Established in the early 1960s, nurse practitioners have served as skilled clinicians, meeting the healthcare needs of patients as the availability of primary care physicians continued to decrease. Much like a Primary Care Physician, Nurse Practitioners can serve as a primary health care providers or specialize in particular areas of health care like family medicine. Many Nurse Practitioners, for instance Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP), work in collaboration with physicians in hospitals or outpatient facilities, while others work autonomously in private practices. With their graduate-level education and clinical training, family nurse practitioners can diagnose illnesses, conduct exams, treat complex health conditions, and prescribe medications. Family nurse practitioners place a strong emphasis on wellness and prevention, but also provide treatment for everything from mild ailments to serious conditions affecting any member across the age span.

There are over one hundred specialties in nursing, each requiring different specifications of educational level, degree attained, and clinical contact hours. Numerous studies have shown that advanced education and certification improve collaboration and communication, patient satisfaction, and fewer adverse events in patient care, as well as improved outcomes in patient compliance. The state of Montana accepts 26 advanced practices registered nursing specialties. But each hospital encourages nurses to specialize and become certified to improve patient care. Certified Diabetes educator is a certification that requires only contact hours and an examination, no college courses required, although there are college course that prepare nurses

Since October 1963 the nursing profession has been self-regulated in Ontario by The College of Nurses. Self-regulation and The College of Nurses work together to support nurses while setting the guidelines for the practice, while enforcing the rules and regulations with the goal of protecting the public interest. In this paper I will discuss the importance of The College of Nurses and self-regulation, what I have learned about them and how I use them in my clinical practice.