CNA250 Nursing Practice 2
Question:
Advanced registered nursing graduates are entering the profession at dynamic time when roles and scope of practice are shifting based on developments in legislation and policy in response to the evolving needs of the health care system. Professional nursing organizations play an important role in making sure the perspectives of advanced registered nurses are heard, and in supporting nurse specialties in their efforts to expand their scope of practice and their full participation throughout the health care system.
For this assignment, you will conduct research on the current scope of practice for your specialty and efforts that are being made to expand that scope and the role of the advanced nurse in positively influencing the health care system. Write a paper that includes the following:
- A discussion of the scope of your future role as an advanced registered nurse, including any regulatory, certification, or accreditation agencies that define that scope.
- A discussion of three professional nursing organizations that you think are most influential in advancing the scope and influence of advanced nursing. Of these organizations, evaluate the one that you would most like to join. How do its goals and mission fit in with your worldview and philosophy of care? How might membership in this organization improve your practice?
- A discussion of a controversial or evolving issue that is most likely to affect your scope of practice or role in the next few years. How do you think this issue could influence the profession and other stakeholders, and why does it matter to the advanced registered nurse?
Answer:
Introduction:
The nursing profession is witnessing a significant amount of changes with respect to the reformed law and legislation policies. At this juncture, the fresh nursing graduates who are about to enter the professional field are witnessing a major challenge in terms of acclimatizing to the changing environment (Andrew Scanlon et al., 2014). It should be critically noted here that the transition from the academic environment to the professional environment in itself is extremely challenging. A multitude of factors play a key role in the transition process which include, compliance with the professional standard and ethics, understanding the expected job role and being updated with the current trends of the profession. A successful transition is governed by the ability to substantially assimilate the criticalities of the professional environment and endeavor to upgrade and sustain within the professional environment (Andrew Scanlon et al., 2014). This paper aims to discuss the criticalities involved in the process of transition from the role as a registered nurse to advanced registered nurse.
Discussion:
At present, I am working as a registered nursing professional in the cardiac/telemetry unit of a reputed hospital. My expected future position as an advanced nursing professional would be in the domain of nursing informatics. The journey to get the name prefixed by the acronym ARN is an extremely complicated one and involves a series of extravagant learning and practice. It should be noted here that the advanced nursing professional are divided into four major categories that include, Certified Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Nurse Anesthetists and Clinical Nurse Specialists. The major job role of advanced nursing professionals comprise of multidisciplinary clinical responsibilities that include, ordering diagnostic tests, designing and determining a feasible treatment, educating the patient and adequately assisting preventive care through the process of screening. However, it should critically be noted here that the job role is primarily concerned with supervising and team leading. The specific job requirements include, managing a team, handling multiple responsibilities, independent decision making and maintenance of efficient contact with patients. My area of interest as an advanced nursing professional would be to handle activities related to the clinical nursing domain. I would specifically like to obtain the job role in the sector of nursing informatics. The prerequisite eligibility to become an advanced registered nurse is to first attain a license in nursing and practice as a registered nurse. In accordance with the guidelines published by the American Nurses Association, it is mandatory for a registered nursing professional to complete a 2 or 4 year professional course in nursing education from a recognized university on a mandatory basis. Further, in nursing graduates must also clear the state National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses to obtain a license at the state level. Further, the guidelines also mention that aspirants interested in practicing as an advanced nursing professional must pursue a Masters degree in the area of interest. A number of certification courses can be undertaken by interested candidates. It should be noted here that the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners offer a multitude of competency based examinations. These exams are specifically designed for adult nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners and gerontology primary care nursing practitioners (Hamric et al., 2013). Also, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists awards certification to Registered Nurse Anesthetists and in the same manner, the American Nurses Credentialing Centre awards certification to clinical nurse specialists. Also, certified nurse midwives are designated by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In addition to the mentioned requisites it is also mandatory to work in the critical care unit for a minimum of 1 year, in order to gain effective practicum experience.
The professional nursing organizations are found to be extremely influential in terms of expanding the scope of nursing practice (DeNisco & Barker, 2013). It should be significantly noted here that the nursing organizations are aligned with key areas of professional practice encompassing the clinical, political and regulatory framework. These organizations offer a variety of opportunities that allow the professionals to assume job role aligned with their area of interest (DeNisco & Barker,2013). According to my view, the three most important organizations that offer a brilliant scope for the aspiring professionals to assume a role in advanced nursing practices include, National Association of Disease Management and Wellness Professionals, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists. Out of the three mentioned organizations I would like to be a part of the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists. The rationale behind me registering as an interested professional to work with this organization is essentially based on the vision and objectives of the reputed organization. As already mentioned, my area of interest as an advanced nursing professional is specializing in the clinical nursing domain. This organization specifically provides a platform for the clinical nursing professionals to realize the complete scope of practice of a clinical nurse specialist. It also provides the best facility in terms of acquiring nursing specialist education (Nacns.org., 2018). Further, it provides a broad scope of research and opportunities to assimilate the knowledge of evidence based practice in the practicum. Also, in association with the reformed guidelines, the organization provides multiple in-house training and certification programs to facilitate and acquire professional expertise and actively recognizes the interest of clinical nursing professionals (Nacns.org., 2018). Hence, in accordance to my point of view, being a member of this prestigious organization would help me in developing my professional career and at the same time provide ample opportunities for acquiring short term certifications and expertise in other technical skills.
The advanced nursing practice is majorly affected by four important policy and regulatory policies that include Licensure, accreditation, certification and education under the Consensus Model for APRN, the Doctor of Nursing Practice Movement, the IOM report and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Hain & Fleck, 2014,p.19). These four legislative policies have embarked as major barriers in the scope of advanced nursing professional practice. However, according to my point of view, I feel that ‘State Policy and Licensure’ forms the most critical barrier in the scope of practice. Licensure policies vary for each state and it should be noted here that the advanced nursing professionals possess the right to practice to the fullest extent of the absorbed education and training (Hain & Fleck, 2014,p.19). However the varying state policy serves as a major hindrance and poses two critical issue that restricts the practice. The first being, the legal ability to engage in just one element of the nursing practice and collaborate with an external health discipline so as to provide service delivery and the second being the restricted scope of practice and licensing that requires the nursing professional to engage with an external health discipline to provide patient care under supervision. The discrepancy in terms of restricted licensing due to varied state legislative policies is invariably affecting the sanctity of the profession and posing an impediment in the process of providing care.
Conclusion:
Hence, to conclude it can be said that the journey to assume the professional role of an advanced nursing professional is a complicated one. It requires critical assimilation of theoretical knowledge along with practicum experience. However acquiring a sound theoretical knowledge and additional certification courses can help in strengthening the practicum expertise to attain positive patient outcomes. Further, a sound knowledge of current legislative policies and trends can help in continuous up gradation of skills and knowledge.
References:
Andrew Scanlon, D.N.P., Denise Hibbert, R.G.N., Freda DeKeyser Ganz PhD, R.N., Linda East PhD, R.N. and Debbie Fraser MN, R.N., 2014. Addressing issues impacting advanced nursing practice worldwide. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 19(2), p.1.
DeNisco, S.M. and Barker, A.M., 2013. Advanced practice nursing: Evolving roles for the transformation of the profession.
Hain, D., & Fleck, L. (2014). Barriers to nurse practitioner practice that impact healthcare redesign. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 19(2).
Hamric, A.B., Hanson, C.M., Tracy, M.F. and O’Grady, E.T., 2013. Advanced Practice Nursing-E-Book: An Integrative Approach. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Nacns.org. (2018). Mission and Goals – NACNS :: National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Retrieved from https://nacns.org/about-us/mission-and-goals/
O’connell, J., Gardner, G. and Coyer, F., 2014. Beyond competencies: using a capability framework in developing practice standards for advanced practice nursing. Journal of advanced nursing, 70(12), pp.2728-2735.
Use the following coupon code :
SAVE10