Advanced practice nursing (APN) refers to the practice of nursing that influences individual and population health through direct care, management of care, administration of nursing and health care organizations, as well as the development of nursing policies (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Advanced Practice Nurses are prepared at the master’s level. Practice is directed based on the chosen specialty whether it be in direct care specialties or non-direct care specialties (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Given that the original setting of nursing practice is direct patient care, APN is the practice of nursing away from direct patient care to the benefit of direct patient care. In other words, it’s the practice of nursing that provides a systemic and global approach to the Science of Nursing. This level of practice is a higher echelon of nursing practice that makes nursing a professional entity with roles and responsibilities.
The role of APN in respect to health promotion, health restoration, and health system integrity is a continuation of the role carried as a nurse clinician trained at the undergraduate level. At the advanced practice level, the nursing process is also implemented with the goal of providing a systems approach to care rather than an individual approach to care. Non-direct care advanced practitioners are the gate keepers of an organization when it comes to health promotion, illness prevention, and health system integrity through the use of the nursing process at the organizational level.
The Advance Practice Nurse has the advantage of being a practicing clinician early in their nursing career as an undergraduate nurse. They also have the opportunity to develop patient-clinician rapport and skills that are beneficial in understanding patient care approaches as well as patient advocacy. With the advanced knowledge and skills of advanced practice, the APN is able to tackle complex tasks and issues that can bring about change in the healthcare field. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that many nurses occupy advanced practice roles without having advanced practice skills and knowledge, especially at the administrative level. Though it is commanding to recognize and reward a nurse’s management and leadership skills even though they are trained at the undergraduate level, it does not do justice to the image of Advance Nursing Practice.
I'm a strong advocate that an advanced practice subject be initiated in undergraduate nursing curriculum. Nurses are being promoted in management roles without having an advanced degree. Most of the time, it is merit based, not knowledge based. Consequently, exposing the nurse to advanced practice knowledge early in their career strengthens their experience of advanced practice.
APN has gained a lot of territory in society and in healthcare. As nursing care takes a more patient-focused approach, the diversity of nursing specialties makes it possible to reach into the plethora of available nursing knowledge to provide the best approach to care. The American Nurses Association (n.d.) takes great pride in the influential voice of APNs in the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. This APN act of political activism provides nursing provisions related to primary care APNs, Nurse Educators, nursing students loan programs, Nurse Faculty loan programs, as well as direct care trainings. As healthcare cost rises and makes it difficult for many families to access care, APNs can advocate for the community to manage inadequate funding and analyze its effects on patients’ failure to receive appropriate healthcare services (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Nurses are seen as approachable. Hence, families that are facing hardship will not shy away from talking about difficult issues with APNs. Consequenlty, APNs have an opportunity to advocate and lead the conversation to alleviate some of these burdens in the community.
American Nurses Association (n.d.). Health Care Reform and the APRN. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/AdvancedPracticeNurses/Health-Care-Reform-and-the-APRN.
DeNisco, S. M., & Barker, A. M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Maryland, M. A., & Gonzalez, R. I. (2012). Patient advocacy in the community and legislative arena. Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 17(1), 2.
Advanced practice nursing (APN) refers to the practice of nursing that influences individual and population health through direct care, management of care, administration of nursing and health care organizations, as well as the development of nursing policies (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Advanced Practice Nurses are prepared at the master’s level. Practice is directed based on the chosen specialty whether it be in direct care specialties or non-direct care specialties (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Given that the original setting of nursing practice is direct patient care, APN is the practice of nursing away from direct patient care to the benefit of direct patient care. In other words, it’s the practice of nursing that provides a systemic and global approach to the Science of Nursing. This level of practice is a higher echelon of nursing practice that makes nursing a professional entity with roles and responsibilities.
The role of APN in respect to health promotion, health restoration, and health system integrity is a continuation of the role carried as a nurse clinician trained at the undergraduate level. At the advanced practice level, the nursing process is also implemented with the goal of providing a systems approach to care rather than an individual approach to care. Non-direct care advanced practitioners are the gate keepers of an organization when it comes to health promotion, illness prevention, and health system integrity through the use of the nursing process at the organizational level.
The Advance Practice Nurse has the advantage of being a practicing clinician early in their nursing career as an undergraduate nurse. They also have the opportunity to develop patient-clinician rapport and skills that are beneficial in understanding patient care approaches as well as patient advocacy. With the advanced knowledge and skills of advanced practice, the APN is able to tackle complex tasks and issues that can bring about change in the healthcare field. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that many nurses occupy advanced practice roles without having advanced practice skills and knowledge, especially at the administrative level. Though it is commanding to recognize and reward a nurse’s management and leadership skills even though they are trained at the undergraduate level, it does not do justice to the image of Advance Nursing Practice.
I'm a strong advocate that an advanced practice subject be initiated in undergraduate nursing curriculum. Nurses are being promoted in management roles without having an advanced degree. Most of the time, it is merit based, not knowledge based. Consequently, exposing the nurse to advanced practice knowledge early in their career strengthens their experience of advanced practice.
APN has gained a lot of territory in society and in healthcare. As nursing care takes a more patient-focused approach, the diversity of nursing specialties makes it possible to reach into the plethora of available nursing knowledge to provide the best approach to care. The American Nurses Association (n.d.) takes great pride in the influential voice of APNs in the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. This APN act of political activism provides nursing provisions related to primary care APNs, Nurse Educators, nursing students loan programs, Nurse Faculty loan programs, as well as direct care trainings. As healthcare cost rises and makes it difficult for many families to access care, APNs can advocate for the community to manage inadequate funding and analyze its effects on patients’ failure to receive appropriate healthcare services (Maryland & Gonzalez, 2012). Nurses are seen as approachable. Hence, families that are facing hardship will not shy away from talking about difficult issues with APNs. Consequenlty, APNs have an opportunity to advocate and lead the conversation to alleviate some of these burdens in the community.
American Nurses Association (n.d.). Health Care Reform and the APRN. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/AdvancedPracticeNurses/Health-Care-Reform-and-the-APRN.
DeNisco, S. M., & Barker, A. M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Maryland, M. A., & Gonzalez, R. I. (2012). Patient advocacy in the community and legislative arena. Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 17(1), 2.