Post on 28-Jan-2016
description
The Role 1
What is the Role?
Christy Holshouser
University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Nursing
NFH 601
Dr. Anne Williams
3-18-09
The Role 2
What is the Role?
Introduction
My journey to pursue the role of Nurse Practitioner (NP) had its inception approximately
two to three years ago when I was in Uganda, Africa traveling with Operation Renewed Hope
(ORH) and conducting medical clinics in local villages. I had worked in a pediatric intensive
care unit for eight years at this time and had traveled with ORH for two years primarily serving
as head nurse. On this particular trip, I was asked to work with the physicians and to care for the
children. This experience sparked a fire that pushed me to consider an advanced practice nursing
role. My expectations of this role are to increase my knowledge, assessment, and diagnostic
skills in the medical care of children and families to be able to function as a practitioner for the
children on these medical mission trips.
The role of a nurse practitioner is an advanced practice role as evidenced by meeting the
advanced practice criteria of expanded knowledge and specialization, certification, and a clinical
focus on patient care. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
indicates the NP competencies as follows: consultation, research skills, clinical and professional
leadership, collaboration, ethical decision-making skills, and expert coaching and guidance
(NONPF, 2002). Direct clinical practice is identified as the core competency of the advanced
practice nurse (APN). Hamric, Spross and Hanson state that “what distinguishes APN practice is
the expectation that these competencies are visible in the practice…” (Hamric, Spross & Hanson,
2005, p. 96)
Comparison Table
The following table lists a comparison of three professional roles. These roles include
Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Social Worker.
The Role 3
Role comparison table Comparisons Nurse Practitioner Clinical Nurse Specialist Social Worker
Specific functions 1. Direct clinical practice: a. Assessment b. Diagnosis c. Management of care d. Prescriptive treatments 2. Consultation 3. Research skills 4. Clinical and professional leadership 5. Collaboration 6. Ethical decision-making skills (NONPF, 2002)
1. Consultation 2. Professional expert 3. Case manager 4. Educator 5. Director of patient care 6. Research skills
1. Research skills 2. Advocacy 3. Case manager 4. Supervisor 5. Legislative practice 6. System design
Independent versus collaborative role
Collaborative role Collaborative role Collaborative role
Education Master’s degree Doctorate degree
Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree
Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate degree
Licensure Licensure standards vary by state Licensure standards vary by state Licensure standards vary by state Certification 1. Examination required for
certification 2. Obtained through American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
1. Examination required for certification 2. Certification in specialty areas are currently being developed 3. Obtained through American Nurses Credentialing Center and other specialty organizations
1. Dependent on at least Master’s degree level of education 2. Based on professional experience
The Role 4
Scope of practice Provide primary care to patients including: 1. Obtaining health history and performing physical assessment 2. Manage acute and chronic illness 3. Educate patients in health management and disease prevention 4. Manage prescriptive therapies 5. Identify patients in need of referral services
Work with patients, nursing personnel and organizational systems to provide expertise in education, consultation and research that will provide quality outcomes
Work with individuals, children and families to aid in coping with issues, relationships and activities of daily living including: 1. Finances 2. Domestic and marital dysfunction 3. Unemployment 4. Abuse and neglect
Other comparisons Initiated in response to a physician shortage
1. Not usually involved in direct patient care 2. Developed to improve the quality of nursing care 3. Work with a specific population
Work with a specific population
The Role 5
Summary
The comparison table above delineates the separate characteristics of each identified role
and helps to show the similarities and differences between each role. The three roles compared
focus on aspects of patient/client care although that care may or may not be direct care of the
person. All three roles require a higher level of education and licensure to practice, and they may
be complemented with certifications specific to patient populations. Consultation, research,
collaboration, and education are also key components to each of these roles. In summary, to be
able to effectively function in a desired role, a professional must first be able to differentiate that
role from the role of other professionals. Role development and definition is a dynamic function
that is crucial in providing quality care to the population being served.
The Role 6
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-
09 Edition, Social Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm (visited
March 18, 2009).
Christian, S., Dower, C., & O'Neil, E. (2007). Overview of nurse practitioner scopes of practice
in the United States-discussion [Electronic version]. University of California, The Center
for the Health Professions..
Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., & Hanson, C. M. (2005). Advanced practice nursing: An
integrative approach. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2002, April 1). Nurse practitioner
primary care competencies in specialty areas: adult, family, gerontological, pediatric,
and women's health. .
Teicher, S., Crawford, K., Williams, B., Nelson, B., & Andrews, C. (2001, August 1). Emerging
role of the pediatric nurse practitioner in acute care. Pediatric Nursing, 27(No. 4), 387.