Advanced Practice Nurse Role Practice ✓ Solved

ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE ROLE 2 Advanced Practice Nurse Role

The focus of this paper is to describe various aspects revolving around Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), specifically in this case, the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Furthermore, FNPs' multiple roles will be discussed alongside identifying various clinical and non-clinical roles, concept models, and domains associated with the FNP within the general health care setting.

Role of the Family Nurse Practitioner and Philosophy

The primary functions played by FNP nurses are to educate, apply nursing expertise in providing direct care, and promote preventive measures and wellness (Joel, 2017). The role of FNP, as described by Utley, Kristina Henry & Smith (2017), is applying the acquired clinical skills and knowledge in executing medical mandates like patient diagnosis, assessment, and offering direct care (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments). Every competent FNP provider's primary goal is to maximize patient outcomes and effectively use limited available resources.

The type of care provided must synchronize with the evidence-based practices, implementing research findings, as well as credentialing agencies working as a team to attain patient outcomes (Pearce & Breen, 2018). Another thing that motivated me to become an FNP is when I visited my aunt’s working local hospital, and the way she cared for me as an individual really sparked my spirit. Now that I am working in one of the FNP units, it is evident that FNPs can work in diverse settings other than as primary care providers (PCP). Discharging versatile roles, especially when handling a diverse population, is fulfilling because the primary goal is to offer holistic care (Utley, Kristina Henry & Smith, 2017). My philosophy of care boils down to advocating for what is right and beneficial to both patients and ourselves as APNs regardless of the course of roles.

Clinical and Non-clinical Perspectives

Notably, when providing continued care, administering the right treatment, and taking patient assessments and analysis, Joel (2017) alleges that clinical roles involve physical contact with the patient. However, every FNP anticipating discharging such clinical functions should be licensed and certified. Accordingly, since FNPs work in a clinical environment, they diagnose and offer treatment therapies to patients suffering from psychological conditions and drug abuse problems. An FNP must interview both the patient and their family in order to grasp the historical background of the presenting conditions examined. Consequently, some doors open for FNPs to continue providing complete care and follow up to their patients (Pearce & Breen, 2018).

FNPs reap comprehensive benefits in their care by delivering supportive interventions, education, health improvement, as well as disease control and management (Looman, 2020). Conversely, FNPs can provide non-clinical roles such as hospital executives, transcribers, receptionists, medical billing, and other supporting roles because these do not involve any medical attention or testing.

Advanced Nursing Concept

I conceptually apply the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Synergy Model as a guiding principle when executing my philosophy as well as driving towards becoming a future FNP. The synergy model matches my nursing care attributes such that the patient’s characteristics should align with nurses’ competencies based on restoring the client's optimal level of wellness (Pearce & Breen, 2018). The patient's needs and characteristics must correspond with the nurse competencies to attain synergy. The synergy model reminds every FNP that the focus should be on identifying the patient's needs and developing rapport (Looman, 2020). By utilizing competencies, one can appropriately address these criteria.

Conclusion

For the past decade, the concept of APN development has been complicated and lengthy. The evolution has been parallel to APNs' roles. In modern medicine, nurses play similar roles to physicians like diagnosing, treating, and prescribing medications. Various studies have revealed that, from several perspectives, advanced nurse practitioners' roles are akin to those of medical doctors because both professions support patient outcomes (Looman, 2020). Therefore, it is crucial to relate advanced nursing concepts with the political climate because nursing politics significantly affects how nurses implement new practices while targeting competency, proficiency, and accountability in health service delivery (Utley, Kristina Henry & Smith, 2017). As more nurses engage in unmerited regions, the more advanced nursing practice roles progressively receive endorsement in many states.

References

  • Joel, L. A. (2017). Advanced practice nursing: Essentials for role development. FA Davis.
  • Looman, W. S. (2020). Teaching Systems Thinking for Advanced Family Nursing Practice: A Theory-Based Tool. Journal of Family Nursing, 26(1), 5-14.
  • Pearce, C., & Breen, B. (2018). Advanced clinical practice and nurse-led clinics: a time to progress. British Journal of Nursing, 27(8).
  • Utley, R., Kristina Henry, D. N. P., & Smith, L. (2017). Frameworks for Advanced Nursing Practice and Research: Philosophies, Theories, Models, and Taxonomies. Springer Publishing Company.