Using Any Resources That You Can Find To Identify The Differ

Using Any Resources That You Can Find Identify The Difference Between

Using any resources that you can find, identify the difference between nursing practice and advanced practice nursing. Support advanced practice nursing by identifying nursing theories that can be applied to advanced practice nursing. Expectations Initial Post: Length: A minimum of 250 words, not including references Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Nursing practice encompasses the broad spectrum of care provided by registered nurses (RNs) who perform a variety of duties aimed at promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for patients across diverse settings. Advanced practice nursing (APN), however, refers to specialized roles within nursing that involve higher levels of education, training, and clinical expertise, enabling practitioners to perform additional functions such as diagnosing, prescribing, and managing patient care independently or in collaboration with healthcare teams. This distinction between general nursing practice and advanced practice nursing is critical for understanding the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery.

Differences Between Nursing Practice and Advanced Practice Nursing

The primary difference between nursing practice and advanced practice nursing lies in education, scope of practice, and responsibilities. Registered nurses typically hold a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) and are qualified to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. Their scope is generally limited to direct patient care, health education, and advocacy. In contrast, advanced practice nurses possess at least a master's degree in nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). They undergo additional clinical training and education, which enable them to perform more complex tasks including conducting comprehensive assessments, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medications, and developing treatment plans independently, depending on state laws and regulations (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015).

Furthermore, APNs include roles such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Midwives, each with specialized functions that often involve leadership, research, and policy development. Their expanded scope allows them to bridge gaps in healthcare access, especially in underserved areas, and contribute significantly to primary care teams (Bodenheimer & Smith, 2013).

Supporting Advanced Practice Nursing with Nursing Theories

Nursing theories provide a foundation for evidence-based practice and professional development within advanced practice nursing. Theories such as Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring emphasize the importance of a holistic, patient-centered approach, which aligns well with the roles of advanced practice nurses. Watson's theory promotes caring as the core of nursing practice, encouraging practitioners to develop therapeutic relationships that foster healing and well-being (Watson, 2008).

Other relevant theories include Roy's Adaptation Model, which guides APNs in helping patients adapt to their health conditions through holistic assessment and intervention strategies. This model emphasizes the adaptive processes and promotes health promotion, disease prevention, and management—key aspects of advanced practice roles (Roy, 2009). Similarly, Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory underscores the importance of enabling patients' self-care capabilities, especially in chronic disease management that advanced practice nurses frequently oversee (Orem, 2001).

Applying these theories in practice helps advanced practice nurses develop holistic, personalized care plans rooted in evidence-based principles. This approach not only enhances patient outcomes but also advances the profession's role in transforming healthcare delivery (Fawcett & Garity, 2014).

Conclusion

Distinguishing between nursing practice and advanced practice nursing clarifies the scope, responsibilities, and educational requirements of different nursing roles. Advanced practice nurses possess enhanced competencies that enable independent clinical decision-making and leadership roles, supported by foundational nursing theories that promote holistic, patient-centered care. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, the contributions of advanced practice nurses, guided by these theories, are essential in addressing complex health needs and improving population health outcomes.

References

Bodenheimer, T., & Smith, M. (2013). Primary care: Proposed solutions to the physician shortage. Health Affairs, 32(11), 1881–1886. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0694

Fawcett, J., & Garity, J. (2014). Evaluating theory. In J. Fawcett (Ed.), Analysis and Evaluation of Contemporary Nursing Theories (pp. 19-35). F.A. Davis.

Orem, D. E. (2001). Nursing: Concepts of practice. Mosby.

Roy, C. (2009). The Roy adaptation model (3rd ed.). Pearson.

Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring (Revised edition). University Press of Colorado.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing practice and the role of advanced practice registered nurses in primary care. ANA Policy Statement.

(Note: Above references are for illustration; please ensure to include actual scholarly sources from the past five years in your final paper.)