Future Considerations reply 2

Reply to post below with addition information. 2 reference within 5 years. APA format.

The APRN role was initially developed to fill a need of increased access to care (Joel, 2018). However, as the demand for APRNs has grown over the course of the last few decades, the lack of role clarity and uniqueness of the APRN as a provider has been something that is often not quite clear and challenging to implement.

Often APRNs are compared to physicians in care and outcomes, and how they differ in uniqueness of care provided (Joel, 2018). Some ways an APRN can distinguish his or her role from other nursing roles and medical counterparts, is to continue to advocate for APRNs to provide a distinct nursing model of care, rather than education based on the medical model. According to Joel, “this challenge could result in a diminished voice for nursing, decreased collaboration, a loss of professional autonomy, and reduced public legitimacy” (2018).

APRNs need to be viewed as a provider option who offers a different, unique high standard of care, not be seen as just a substitute to a physician. One specific way that would help this would be for the Consensus Model to be adopted and implemented with all states and educational institutions. The Consensus Model pushes for standardization of education that is to be built upon the competencies of Registered Nursing, thus making the APRN education to stay in line with nursing theory (APRN Consensus Work Group and National Council of State Boards of Nursing APRN Advisory Committee, 2008) rather than becoming its own separate education model.

The variances in APRN education can often be confusing to the average person and to APRNs as well. As experienced RNs, APRNs already have the distinctive and broad skills of collaborating with members of multidisciplinary teams and also have the skills to connect with and educate their patients and families in a unique way. NPs have been continually shown to provide a higher patient satisfaction in comparison to other providers. The NP specifically is able to focus heavily on teaching, health promotion, and self-care with their patients which often leads to an overall decrease in health costs. They often take more time with patients and to educate, a result of bedside experience leading to higher patient satisfaction rates and returns to the NP for care (Joel, 2018). The ACNP in the hospital has also been shown to reduce hospital stay length, infection rates, re-admission rates and the morbidity and mortality among patients they care for, thus reducing costs and increasing patient satisfaction (Barndt, 2018).

The NP shouldn’t be afraid to educate their patients and public on these unique values of their role. They also need to stay involved in professional organizations who advocate for APRNs to be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training and implementation of the consensus model which would help to continue to define and legitimize the role of the APRN.

References.

APRN Consensus Work Group and National Council of State Boards of Nursing APRN Advisory Committee. (2008, July 8). Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. https://www.ncsbn.org/Consensus_Model_for_APRN_Regulation_July_2008.pdf

Barndt, S. N. (2018). Death in Trauma: The Role of the ACNP in Patient Advocacy and Familial Support in End-of-Life Care Decision-Making. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 25(3), 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000363.

Joel, L. A., Flanagan, J.M., Harris, A., and Jones, D.A., (2018). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, accomplishments, trends and future development. Advanced Practice Nursing Essentials for Role Development 4th ed. F.A. Davis Company.

Original question: There are three troublesome issues that have emerged in the advancement of APRN practice. These issues in APRN include: 1) the clear role development and morphed to fill gaps in services; 2) the lack of clarity regarding role uniqueness; and 3) the dearth in nursing specific outcomes. From your readings this week, discuss 1 of the 3 questions. Begin your discussion with the question you will be addressing.

Why might the development and morphing of roles based on gaps in medicine be problematic for advancement of APRNs? What actions might a nurse take to reduce this?
In what ways can an APRN distinguish his or her role from other nursing roles and medical counterparts? Why might this be important?
How can APRNs encourage nursing-based outcome studies?