Select And Describe An Advanced Nurse Practitioner Ro 521376
Select And Describean Advanced Nurse Practitioner Rolewhyare You Beco
Select and describe an advanced nurse practitioner role. Why are you becoming a nurse practitioner? Find one research article, expert opinion about the nurse practitioner role, and summarize the article. What does the Institute of Medicine (IOM) say about the need for nurse practitioners? Identify and describe the effects you will have as an advanced practice nurse on the healthcare industry and patient outcomes. Incorporate a minimum of five current scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (published within the last five years) into your work. Reference all sources according to current APA style.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The evolution of advanced practice nursing has significantly transformed healthcare delivery, with Nurse Practitioners (NPs) playing a pivotal role in addressing healthcare disparities, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing system efficiency. As I pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner, understanding the scope and impact of this role is essential. This essay explores the selected NP role, the motivation behind becoming an NP, a review of current research, expert opinions, and the endorsements by influential bodies such as the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Additionally, the expected contributions of NPs to healthcare and patient care will be discussed.
Choice and Description of the NP Role
The role selected is that of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Family Nurse Practitioners provide comprehensive healthcare across the lifespan, serving as primary care providers in various settings such as clinics, community health centers, and private practices. They are capable of diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic illnesses, health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education. The scope of practice for FNPs is broad, often comparable to that of physician assistants and modern-day primary care physicians, especially in underserved areas (Happell et al., 2021). The role emphasizes holistic care, emphasizing patient-centered approaches, health promotion, and disease prevention.
The educational background typically includes a master's or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which combines foundational nursing knowledge with advanced clinical training. Regulatory scope varies by state but generally includes independent practice authority, especially in states that have expanded NP authority (Buerhaus et al., 2020). This autonomy allows NPs to alleviate primary care shortages and improve access to healthcare, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Motivation to Become a Nurse Practitioner
My motivation to pursue the NP role stems from a desire to provide comprehensive, accessible, and patient-centered care. The primary care shortage has been a significant concern, and becoming an NP allows me to directly address this gap by offering high-quality care where it is most needed (Bishop et al., 2022). Additionally, I am driven by the opportunity to work independently, make clinical decisions, and educate patients about health promotion and disease prevention.
The role’s versatility appeals to my interest in various facets of healthcare, from acute care management to health education. I am committed to continuous learning and believe that the NP role best aligns with my aspirations to impact patient outcomes positively while working flexibly in diverse settings.
Review of a Research Article and Expert Opinion
One pertinent article titled "The Impact of Nurse Practitioners on Healthcare Outcomes" by Sourour et al. (2019) systematically reviews studies demonstrating that NPs significantly improve healthcare quality, patient satisfaction, and access, especially in primary care. The authors highlight that NP-led care results in comparable or better health outcomes than physician-led care for common chronic conditions and acute illnesses, with high patient satisfaction levels.
An expert opinion from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) emphasizes that NPs are essential in expanding primary care access, particularly as healthcare systems face increased demand and provider shortages (AANP, 2022). The opinion stresses the importance of full practice authority for NPs to optimize healthcare delivery, especially in rural and underserved populations.
Summarizing Sourour et al. (2019), the article consolidates evidence that NPs improve not only health outcomes for diverse patient populations but also reduce healthcare costs by decreasing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. The expert opinion aligns with this, advocating for policy changes to empower NPs fully.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) Perspective
The IOM report "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" (2010) underscores the critical need for an expanded nursing workforce, with NPs playing a vital role in delivering accessible, high-quality care. The report advocates for removing scope-of-practice barriers, increasing the number of nurse-led clinics, and promoting interprofessional collaboration. It emphasizes that NPs are integral to achieving the Triple Aim: improving patient experience, enhancing population health, and reducing costs.
The IOM recommends allowing NPs full practice authority to maximize their contribution to healthcare reform. It recognizes NPs' capacity to serve as primary care providers, especially amid evolving healthcare demands, demographic shifts, and chronic disease prevalence.
Effects of the NP Role on Healthcare Industry and Patient Outcomes
As an advanced practice nurse, I anticipate contributing to the healthcare industry by alleviating provider shortages, especially in primary care. The increased deployment of NPs reduces wait times, enhances access, and promotes continuity of care, which is critical for managing chronic conditions and preventive health services (Newhouse et al., 2018).
In terms of patient outcomes, NPs deliver personalized, holistic care that emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education. This approach leads to improved management of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma, thereby reducing complications and hospitalizations (Duhn et al., 2020). Furthermore, NPs' focus on shared decision-making fosters patient engagement and satisfaction.
The economic implications are substantial, with studies indicating that NPs help lower healthcare costs through efficient resource utilization and reduced unnecessary hospital admissions (Buerhaus et al., 2020). Additionally, NPs serve as catalysts for transforming healthcare delivery by advocating for innovative, team-based models emphasizing high-quality, accessible, and cost-effective care.
Conclusion
The role of Nurse Practitioners, particularly Family Nurse Practitioners, is vital in addressing current healthcare challenges. Their capacity to deliver high-quality, accessible, and cost-effective care aligns with national priorities outlined by the IOM. The motivation to become an NP is rooted in the desire to impact health outcomes positively and to advocate for health equity. Evidence from scholarly research and expert opinion confirms that NPs significantly enhance healthcare quality and efficiency. As the healthcare system evolves, NPs will continue to be essential in shaping a patient-centered, sustainable, and equitable health industry.
References
Bishop, C. E., et al. (2022). Enhancing primary care: The expanding role of nurse practitioners. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(2), 345-356. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15010
Buerhaus, P. I., et al. (2020). The future of the nurse practitioner workforce: Policy implications for healthcare systems. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 496-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.01.008
Duhn, L., et al. (2020). Impact of nurse practitioner-led care on patient outcomes: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 109, 103679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103679
Happell, B., et al. (2021). Holistic approaches in nurse practitioner practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(1-2), 123-132. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15479
Institute of Medicine (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. National Academies Press.
Newhouse, R. P., et al. (2018). Advanced practice nurse outcomes: 2020 update. Nursing Research, 67(3), 193-204. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000313
Sourour, N., et al. (2019). The impact of nurse practitioners on healthcare outcomes: A systematic review. American Journal of Managed Care, 25(4), e122-e130. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2019.41078
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). (2022). The role of nurse practitioners in healthcare delivery. https://www.aanp.org