Introduction to the Professional Development Plan
Benner’s Novice to Expert model is a powerful framework that can guide advanced practice nurses (APNs) to become competent providers of evidence-based care. The theory supports the concept of continuous improvement whereby APNs embrace new skills and lifelong learning. Nurses should implement powerful professional development plans to become skilled providers of care (Carman et al., 2013). They should also liaise with different professionals in the field and join various accreditation organizations. This approach can guide APNs to widen their skills and become providers of quality nursing support. The purpose of this document is to describe my professional development plan by Benner’s model. The discussion will outline specific opportunities and licensing organizations that can support my professional development plan. The role of social media networks as useful resources for networking will also be described in the paper. New strategies to address my weaknesses will be described in the paper. These initiatives will eventually make me a proficient provider of evidence-based care.
APN Scope of Practice
Individuals who want to pursue a career in the field of nursing should have completed a bachelor’s degree. The education should have been obtained from a recognized institution. Registered nurses (RNs) who want to become APNs must have a master’s degree. Several regulatory requirements are usually mandatory for APNs. To begin with, Florida expects every APN to have fulfilled the requirements of the National Council Licensure Examination. The practitioners should also be registered as a nurse in the State of Florida (Nurse Practice Act, 2017). Supporting documentation should be presented to the Florida Board of Nursing. The board goes further to outline unique ethics and legal issues that must be upheld by APNs to continue practicing in the state.
Licensed APNs can provide quality care to their patients in different healthcare environments. This is the case because APNs can work as midwives, nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners, or anesthetists. These unique roles dictate the kind of working environments for practitioners. Family nurse practitioners can work in nursing homes, pediatrics, and cardiology departments (Carman et al., 2013). Anesthetics and midwives can work in a typical hospital. Nurse practitioners can provide evidence-based care in different healthcare settings.
In Florida, some laws outline full, reduced, and restricted practice for APNs. To begin with, APN’s full practice includes evaluating the needs of patients, diagnosing diseases, and managing treatment procedures (Nurse Practice Act, 2017). The ability of APNs is reduced in such a way that they engage in only one element of nursing practice. The practitioners are also restricted by the state regulatory law to engage in one NP practice. Advanced practice nurses should also be supervised and guided to ensure the targeted patients receive quality care.
Personal Assessment
My ultimate goal has been to become a skilled provider of evidence-based patient care. I am planning to use my strengths adequately and address my weaknesses. I possess specific strengths that have the potential to support my nursing goals (Patterson & Krouse, 2015). These strengths include leadership, the ability to provide quality care, a proper understanding of policy requirements, and decision-making. I always focus on the interests and emerging needs of my patients. Unfortunately, I have several weaknesses that might not support my future goals. For instance, sometimes I find it hard to manage my time properly. I have also been unable to embrace the use of modern informatics to guide my nursing practice (Beauvais, 2013). The other unique weakness is that I find it hard to deal with personal stress.
I have outlined powerful initiatives that can support my professional goals. One of these goals is becoming a competent provider of advanced nursing care. I am also planning to acquire new competencies, skills, and concepts that can inform my practice. The other goal is embracing the most appropriate strategies that can address the above weaknesses. To achieve these goals, it will be appropriate to focus on Benner’s Novice to Expert model. The theory will ensure every goal and action plan is aimed at making me a proficient provider of advanced care to my patients. I have outlined two objectives that form a critical part of my nursing philosophy. The first objective is to become a skilled APN capable of practicing independently. The other objective is to embrace the power of specific concepts such as lifelong learning. The approach will equip me with new stress coping strategies (Kleinpell et al., 2014). When such objectives are met, I will become a successful APN.
Lifelong learning will play a critical role in supporting my objectives as a practitioner. It will be appropriate to read more articles and publications that focus on nursing practice. Such ideas will support my nursing philosophy and guide me whenever providing adequate care to my patients (Beauvais, 2013). My collaboration with different actors and leaders in nursing will strengthen my competencies as a provider of quality health services. I will join various groups and teams that can support the above objectives and goals (Kleinpell et al., 2014). By so doing, I will develop a powerful philosophy of nursing that embraces the use of evidence-based concepts. Consequently, I will be able to provide culturally competent and personalized care to critical care patients in different clinical settings.
Networking and Marketing Strategies
Nurses can embrace the idea of professional networking in an attempt to support their career development patterns. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) should engage in professional networking and interact with other practitioners. They should maintain such connections and join other communities that support evidence-based healthcare practices (Carman et al., 2013). Numerous international and local organizations address the needs of APNs in different specialties. I am therefore planning to join some of these organizations and communities. This strategy will make it easier for me to identify new job openings and opportunities.
There are “several professional organizations that advertise new employment opportunities for nurse practitioners” (Kleinpell et al., 2014, p. 6). The American Association for Nurse Practitioners (AANP), for instance, informs its members about the emerging laws, practice-specific requirements, and job opportunities in nursing (Patterson & Krouse, 2015). The Society of Nurses in Advanced Practice (SNAP) has been focusing on the best values and principles that can improve nursing practice. The organization guides communities and APNs to identify new opportunities. The San Diego Chapter of NAPNAP is a local organization that provides newsletters to different APNs. Additionally, the organization has a job board that can support the career goals of many NPS.
The Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners (FANP) is a local organization that has always supported the needs of nurse practitioners in the state (Nurse Practice Act, 2017). The organization presents useful information regarding the major issues revolving around the nursing practice. The organization’s website offers timely resources, job alerts, and outreach programs. This organization will, therefore, support my goals as an APN. I strongly believe that these key organizations can make it easier for nurse practitioners to connect. Each of these organizations has a website. NPS can use websites to acquire information and network with other professionals across the globe. The sites can also support their professional objectives and career development plans (Kleinpell et al., 2014).
To network with different APNs and practitioners, it will be appropriate for me to join most of these organizations. The selection rationale will mainly be based on the unique roles and activities promoted by the organizations (Carman et al., 2013). I will mainly focus on specific organizations that advertise various jobs for APNs. I will also consider different online-based resources that can support my career development goals. It will be necessary to collaborate with different APNs and use social media networks. This is the case because such networks offer useful information for marketing and networking purposes.
Conclusion
The use of Benner’s Novice to Expert model will ensure every goal and action plan is aimed at making me a proficient provider of advanced care to my patients. My strengths such as leadership and the ability to offer evidence-based care will guide my professional development plan. Specific organizations such as the Society of Nurses in Advanced Practice and the San Diego Chapter of NAPNAP will support my networking goals. I will use different social media platforms to collaborate with other practitioners (Kleinpell et al., 2014). The implemented plan will equip me with new competencies and eventually support my nursing philosophy.
References
Beauvais, A. (2013). Role transition: Strategies for success in the marketplace. In S. DeNisco & A. Barker (Eds.), Advanced practice nursing: Evolving roles for the transformation of the profession (pp. 1-22). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Carman, K., Dardess, P., Maurer, M., Sofaer, S., Adams, K., Bechtel, C.,…Sweeney, J. (2013). Patient and family engagement: A framework for understanding the elements and developing interventions and policies. Health Affairs, 32(2), 223-231.
Kleinpell, R., Scanlon, A., Hibbert, D., Ganz, F., Fraser, D., Wong, F.,…Beauchesne, M. (2014). Addressing issues impacting advanced nursing practice worldwide. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 19(1), 1-14.
Nurse Practice Act. (2017). Web.
Patterson, B., & Krouse, A. (2015). Competencies for leaders in nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(2), 76-82.