Defining the Roles of Advanced Practice Nursing

Defining the Roles of Advanced Practice Nursing

Guest Author - Helen V. Calalang-Javier, MSN, RNC, IBCLC

Are you looking for autonomy in your nursing practice? Are you getting bored of your routine activities as a staff nurse? Are you stressed out or burnt out? Are you undecided on how to expand your vision/responsibilities as a nursing professional? Well, let s see where you fit in!

The Advanced Practice Nursing (APN)is the way to go. There are so many new options and educational pathways that will suit your needs. If you do not have your bachelors degree in nursing, there are so many ways now to accomplish this and there are many schools and colleges that will provide you with the preparation you need to succeed. Whether you are considering taking courses at the big universities or colleges or simply considering long-distant learning, the important thing is that you make the decision and commitment to upgrade yourself.

Many schools offer the combined bachelors/masters degree track or masters/doctorate degree track. Explore your hospital or your facility for school program listings. Most hospitals or health care facilities partner with colleges and universities to bring the program within your reach. All you have to do is to make that decision to go for it. After all it is you who will benefit from it and hopefully find more value to what you do every day. Here is a listing of the most popular advanced practice nursing roles. These are all at the masters degree level. The scope of practice is dependent on each state, so in addition to the resources provided here it behooves you to look further into what is available in your state. Oftentimes, these programs may not be listed and to uncover them means that you will have to go digging for the information.

Nurse practitioners (NP)Nurse practitionersare advanced practice nurses who can function independently or as part of a health care system that can manage most disease processes but are not limited to diagnosis and prescriptive privilege. Their practice mainly focuses on health assessment, maintenance, and prevention of disease, counseling and patient education. So, completion of this program means that you can work independently or collaboratively in a doctors office or any health care facility in the community.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)Clinical nurse specialistsare advanced practice nurses who are experts in the care of specific patient populations. The role focuses on clinical practice, teaching, research, consulting, leadership, and management. The scope of practice may cover nursing staff management as well as patient care management. Therefore, as an expert, you can function as a nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist in your specialty such as taking care of diabetic patients, cancer patients, care of special population with anomalies or even patients with HIV or AIDS.

Nurse-midwives and nurse anesthetistsNurse midwivesandnurse anesthetistsare two of the oldest advanced practice nursing roles that function within a specialized patient care service. If you are interested in the management of women in childbearing years and not limited to childbirth preparation, process and management, then the nursemidwifery program may be of interest to you. If you are a critical care nurse and are interested in giving anesthesia, sedation, care of patient during pre/post/peri-anesthesia, pain management, and work collaboratively with the anesthesiologist, then go for the nurse anesthetist program.

Clinical nurse leader (CNL)Clinical nurse leaderis a relatively new title but the role has been around for decades. If you are exploring the world of nursing leadership and management this may be the right track for you. Today, the preparation you need to be in this position allows you to transfer your basic leadership and management skills to all patient care settings. You can function as a first-line manager, supervisor or administrator or as one of the nursing executives in a hospital, managed care facility, home health agencies, or other health care facilities other than the hospital.

Visitor Note: Per the AACN, the CNL is NOT considered and advanced practice nursing degree. The title of advanced practice nurse is protected and only those who are clinical nurses specialists, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and certified registered nurse anesthetists may use the title.

The feeling of boredom, being stressed out, and burnout are indicators that you need change in your life or in your nursing practice. It is time to move on. One of Americas most beloved motivational writers, who rose from abject poverty in the late 1800s to become one of the most prolific and beloved motivational authors,Napoleon Hill, believed that the path to success is not lined with the perfect marriage of coincidences and luck, but rather comes from the refusal to give up ones dream. This sentiment is summed up nicely in one of his famous quotes that;Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

To learn more about the different competencies and responsibilities specific to what you are looking for, visit the following website or simply click on thenursing organization/associationon link on this website:

Role of Advanced Practice Nurses

An advanced practice nurse (APN) has completed training beyond that of basic nursing. Such training includes nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. Advance practice nurses are certified and meet the requirements established by the Board of Nursing.An advanced practice nurse's role includes writing prescriptions, administering anesthesia, interpreting lab results, and diagnosing treatment of acute illnesses or injuries.

Related Searches: FNP Scope of Practice Jeux Role RPG1. Writing Prescriptions Advanced practice nurses have the authority to write prescriptions for patients. APNs may assume this role because they have undergone the specialized training and are certified. However, Georgia is the only state that does not allow APNs to prescribe or write prescriptions.

Administer Anesthesia An advanced practice nurse can administer anesthesia, as long as she has received the proper training and certification. This role allows the nurse to perform an assessment to determine if the anesthesia is necessary. If so, the APN will educate the patient on the anesthesia process and administer the anesthesia herself. It is also the APN's responsibility to oversee the patient's recovery from the anesthesia.

Interpret Lab Work and X-rays When a patient has lab work performed, including blood work or X-rays, it is the role of the advanced practice nurse to review, analyze and interpret the lab results. The APN will carefully study the results and research the types of treatment that may be available. The APN has to be able to deliver accurate descriptions of what was found from the X-ray or lab work, so that the patient and doctor are fully aware of the medical condition.

Treatment An advanced practice nurse may be able to diagnose treatment of common acute illnesses or injuries. This role requires the APN to determine what the health-care needs of the patient are, and then plan a strategy that identifies with and meets those needs. The APN may consult with a physician and other health-care team members to ensure the treatment meets the patient's needs at the most appropriate level.

Midwife Some advanced practice nurses assume the role of a nurse midwife. This role requires the APN to have training in obstetrics and to work under the supervision of obstetrician. The APN will advise women on reproductive health issues. Conducting pelvic and breast exams, as well as pap smears, are duties that come with this role. Some midwife nurses provide neonatal care. They assist with labor and child birth.

Read more:Role of Advanced Practice Nurses | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/about_5407505_role-advanced-practice-nurses.html#ixzz1fDLIbWRqRole Development in Professional Nursing Practice

Registered nurses (RNs) looking to further develop their professional role in nursing have several career options. Graduate-level training programs provide degrees in advanced nursing professions, as well as nursing administration, education and informatics.

Related Searches: Nursing Care Management RN Nursing Degrees1. Advanced Practice Nursing

Advanced practice nursing applies to several specialized fields of clinical nursing, including clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. These nursing professionals must complete master's or doctorate degree programs and pass certifying exams required by their state nursing boards.

Nursing Administration and Education

Another career development option for RNs is nursing administration and education roles. Nursing university programs offer graduate degrees in health leadership, nursing and health care administration, which combine coursework in advanced nursing and business administration. Doctoral-level nursing programs offer research training for future scholars and specialized curricula for RNs seeking to become nurse educators.

Nursing Informatics

An increasingly more popular health care profession is nursing informatics. In this role, RNs collaborate with technology staff to provide the best patient care, for example, by providing training and support to nursing staff when new software or computer programs are implemented. They may also create electronic databases for patient records and develop telemedicine programs for patients living in remote areas.

Development & Evolution of the Role of Nurse Educator

The development and evolution of the role of nurse educator has changed significantly since the first reported nursing research in 1906. As of 2010, nurse educators are responsible for designing, implementing and reviewing nurse education programs in universities, teaching hospitals and health care facilities. Related Searches: http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a07/5l/6h/development-evolution-role-nurse-educator-800x800.jpg Palliative Care Nurses Nurse Specialist Role1. Early Nurse Educators The earliest accounts of nurse educators were in England in 1860 at the Florence Nightingale School for nursing. In 1873, three hospital schools which followed Nightingale's key principles, opened in America but they failed to provide nurses with the skills to improve medical treatment and provide more humane treatment to patients.

Post-World War I In 1926, the Committee on Nursing Education was founded, which later became the Committee on the Grading of Nursing schools. The committee was established to make the necessary changes in nurse education to improve the care of terminally, acutely and seriously ill patients. The key implications made by this committee were that only individuals with a high degree of education (master's or Ph.D.) could educate new nurses.

Modern Day In 2010, most universities in the U.S. now offer undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing. The American Association for Critical Care nurses estimated that, in 2009, 55,000 individuals were not accepted into nursing programs because of the stringency of nursing education standards.

Role of a Nurse Educator

Nurse educators play a vital role in educating and training new nurses, as well as to advance experienced nurses through continuing education. Nurse education is an occupation getting increasing national attention because of a shortage of qualified applicants, which in turn exacerbates the nursing shortage throughout most of the First World nations.

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A nurse educator in actionNurse Educators come in several varieties and can be found in multiple settings.LVN/LPN Instructors. Experienced registered nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degree or higher may instruct programs for licensed vocational or licensed practical nurses. LVNs/LPNs graduate from one-year vocational programs and practice under the supervision of an registered nurse. Their scope of practice is more limited than an RN and as a general rule typically includes simple hands-on tasks that do not require evaluation or decision-making.RN Instructors. Registered Nurses holding a Master in Nursing (MSN) or higher degree may instruct registered nursing students in an academic setting. This may be part of a two-year certificate program or a four-year BSN. Both degrees lead to the same RN licensure, although today the BSN is often preferred by medical facilities and may command a higher wage. These instructors are found at community colleges and universities with nursing programs.Preceptors. Experienced RNs help induct and train new graduate nurses coming into hospitals and other medical facilities. Preceptors are vital to assisting new RNs transition into hands-on practice in a medical facility, and in their discipline or area of expertise, such as medical, surgical, oncology or emergency medicine.Graduate Instructors/Professors. RNs with Doctorate of Nursing Science (DNS) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees instruct master's and doctorate-level programs. DNPs in particular often instruct programs for nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwife and clinical nurse specialists.

Nurse Educators and Shortages A lack of qualified nurse educators is contributing to a severe shortage of RNs.A study by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that in 2008, U.S. nursing colleges turned away nearly 50,000 qualified applicants from bachelor's and graduate nursing programs. Two of the leading reasons the study cited were insufficient number of faculty and preceptors.At the same time, an April 2006 study by the Health Resources and Services Administration projects that by the year 2020, the U.S. will face a shortage of about 1 million nurses.In March 2008, the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply based at the University of Pennsylvania determined that 30,000 additional nurses should be graduated annually to keep up with America's need for RNs.

Why Don't More Qualified Nurses Teach? Nursing has expanded dramatically over the past 20 years. Nurses with advanced degrees--master's and doctorate's--find themselves with many enticing options. Their choices include management, consulting, education, research, preceptorship, practice and counseling.Nurses who may qualify to be nurse educators by virtue of their degrees may choose another option, many of which may be more lucrative than instruction in a college or university.

Continuing Education In addition to formal education to become a nurse--or earning a higher degree or certification--practicing nurses must have continuing education in order to maintain their licenses.Therefore, nurse educators are needed to teach all manner of courses designed to keep practicing nurses updated on the latest medical information, techniques, procedures and even customer service trends.Although some courses can now be taken on-line, most continuing education is done in lectures, workshops or courses, which typically last from a few hours to a few days. The more time spent in the course, the more "contact hours" are credited for the course.Nurse educators cover a broad range from highly acute areas such as cardiac and respiratory issues to development issues like autism and even to school nursing-related issues like lice prevention.

Nurses Who Teach Patients Another role of a nurse educator can be patient education, be it directed at individuals or the community at large.Individual patient education includes important information about self-care upon discharge from a medical facility. Such lessons may include post-surgical wound care, do's and don'ts of wearing a cast, safety precautions after a procedure or teaching a diabetic patient how to self-inject insulin.Other patient education may include telephonic advising via help lines and medical insurance company services. Patients call in to speak with an experienced RN about a situation or condition before deciding whether or not to see a physician. Nurse educators in this role advise patients on symptoms and behaviors to observe, simple remedies and when to seek more urgent medical care.Nurse educators are also involved in community education.Health educators teach their communities about such topics as healthy lifestyles and wellness. This involves informing individuals and communities on behaviors that promote healthy living and disease prevention. For example, a nurse educator may hold a course on self-examinations for breast cancer for women who are at higher risk, or lessons on fall prevention for family and caregivers of the elderly.

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By Mary Jane, eHow ContributorupdatedFebruary 22, 2011

Read more:Nurse Educator Qualifications | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/info_7959946_nurse-educator-qualifications.html#ixzz1fDTjJrDGA nurse educator is a professional educator who teaches students and college professionals about the field of nursing. Nurse educators teach clinical and nursing information to students who are training to become nurses. These educators need to have specific qualifications. They must also provide leadership and mentoring for students who need extra attention or guidance in the classroom.

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Nurse educators must have an extensive educational background. Nurse educators often have a master's degree or a Ph.D., with a focus on a specific area of nursing or human health. Nurse educators who have an expertise in a given area may often teach courses that deal directly with that subject. Any certificates or degrees that do not directly apply to the educator's main nursing degree, such as a certificate in child psychology, could also play a role in the education program.

Nursing Areas Since the nurse educators have some knowledge in several areas of nursing, they can guide students who may not know all areas of nursing or human health. If the nurse educator is specialized in one or two areas, it is possible that they do not know specific techniques or details from other nursing areas. Nursing areas of study include psychology, human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, maternal and child nursing, research in nursing practices, medical and surgical nursing, and general nursing practices in a clinic or hospital.

Teaching Skills Another qualification the nurse educator must have is the ability to create a teaching schedule and curriculum. The nurse educator must recognize the most important aspects the students need to know to work effectively in the nursing field and create a program that suits the needs of the students. The educator must also teach the content in an effective manner, provide frequent examinations, and evaluate the educational content and the teaching process.

Communication and Mentoring The nurse educator will work closely with students to monitor their progress with the course materials. The nurse educator must be able to listen effectively to understand each student's issues with the content. She must also be able to explain the content in a different manner, in case the student has trouble understanding a given concept or practice. Students will often see the nurse educator as a mentor, so she should be able to answer specific questions about nursing practices and techniques.

Read more:Nurse Educator Qualifications | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/info_7959946_nurse-educator-qualifications.html#ixzz1fDU8oQwWClinical Nurse Specialist

OverviewClinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are Advanced Practice nurses who hold a masters or doctoral degree in a specialized area of nursing practice. Their area of clinical expertise may be in:

a population (e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics, womens health);

a setting (e.g. critical care, emergency room);

a disease or medical subspecialty (e.g. diabetes, oncology);

a type of care (e.g. psychiatric, rehabilitation); or

a type of health problem (e.g. pain, wounds, stress).

In addition to the conventional nursing responsibilities which focus upon helping patients to prevent or resolve illness, a CNS scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and/or disabilities within his/her field of expertise. Clinical Nurse Specialists provide direct patient care, serve as expert consultants for nursing staffs, and take an active hand in improving health care delivery systems.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are Advanced Practice Nurses whoprovide care to patients throughout the lifespan, from premature newborns to the elderly.

They perform comprehensive and focused physical examinations; diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries; provide immunizations; manage high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and other chronic health problems; order and interpret diagnostic tests such as X-Rays and EKGs, as well as laboratory tests; prescribe medications and therapies, perform procedures, and educate and counsel patients and their families regarding healthy lifestyles and health care options.

NPs can prescribe medications, including controlled substances, in all 50 states. In 25 states, NPs have authority to practice independently.

Nurse Educator

Overview

Nurse educators are registered nurses with advanced education who are also teachers. Most work as nurses for a period of time before dedicating their careers (part-time or full-time) to educating future nurses.

Nurse educators serve as faculty members in nursing schools and teaching hospitals, sharing their knowledge and skills to prepare the next generation of nurses for effective practice. They develop lesson plans, teach courses, evaluate educational programs, oversee students clinical practice and serve as role models for their students. They may teach general courses or focus on areas of specialization, such as geriatric nursing, pediatric nursing or nursing informatics.

Most nurse educators have extensive clinical experience, and many continue caring for patients after becoming educators. Even if they no longer practice, nurse educators must stay current with new nursing methods and technologies. This means nurse educators are always on the leading edge of clinical practice.

With experience, nurse educators may advance to administrative roles, managing nurse education programs, writing or reviewing textbooks, and developing continuing education programs for working nurses.

Nurse Administrator Description

A nurse administrator is the most senior nurse in a hospital, overseeing the care delivery for patients on all nursing units. Also known as a chief nursing officer or chief nurse executive, a nurse administrator fills an increasingly important role as health care systems evolve.

Read more:Nurse Administrator Description | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/facts_5511182_nurse-administrator-description.html#ixzz1fIbPPe4XHistory

Twenty years ago, the director of nursing (DON) was the most senior nurse in a hospital, responsible solely for nursing care. As hospital leaders gained a better appreciation of the role nurses play in patient outcomes, the DON took on a broader responsibility for all aspects of patient care and assumed the title of nurse administrator.

Functions A nurse administrator establishes effective patient care delivery systems, ensures continuous quality improvement in patient care, and represents nursing as a member of the senior leadership team when decisions are made.

Hierarchy The nurse administrator directly supervises nurse managers or directors for individual nursing units. She typically reports to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the hospital.

Skills A nurse administrator has a sound clinical knowledge base, solid fiscal management skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships across the organization

Qualifications A nurse administrator is a registered nurse (RN), and many hospitals require an advanced degree in nursing (MSN) or business (MBA).

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