Introduction
Healthcare specialists who complete the master of nursing curriculum acquire new competencies that make it easier for them to complete a wide range of roles. Different advanced roles make it easier for healthcare workers to provide evidence-based support to patients from diverse backgrounds. This discussion gives a detailed comparison of the roles of Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Nurse Educators (NE), Nurse Informaticists (NIs), and Nurse Administrators (NA). The paper goes further to describe the policies, issues, and attributes associated with the unique roles of NPs.
Comparing and Contrasting the Roles of Advanced Practice Roles in Nursing
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) should possess competent skills in order to provide adequate care and treatment to their patients. The practitioners should use their theoretical and clinical skills to improve the health outcomes of their clients. The possession of advanced skills makes it easier for NPs to practice independently and provide evidence-based support to more patients. NPs can work in different clinical settings to provide adequate health support.
For instance, NPs can choose specific fields such as family practice, mental health, elderly care, gerontology, and pediatrics (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). NPs are usually equipped with appropriate competencies in order to provide evidence-based care to individuals with diverse health needs. Jeffreys (2008) indicates that NPs are usually prepared to offer timely care to patients in acute settings. The ability to diagnose and treat diseases independently makes them critical players in healthcare settings.
In terms of education, NPs must complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). NPs working independently can execute administrative roles and make their facilities successful. These practitioners are also equipped with adequate skills to engage in research and lifelong learning. The completed research studies present new ideas that can transform the nature of health services available to more patients.
The second role is that of a Nurse Educator (NE). A NE is a properly-trained practitioner who is informed about the core components of nursing (Jeffreys, 2008). These professionals should possess powerful traits such as effective communication, research skills, and leadership competencies. The role makes it easier for professionals to educate and empower different students. They have a proper understanding of the major clinical practices that can be used to improve the nature of care. The practitioners should be informed about the best practices to support nursing and improve the outcomes of more vulnerable populations.
The professionals should complete a master’s degree in order to become competent NEs. They should possess powerful leadership skills in an attempt to undertake administrative roles in their respective learning institutions. These practitioners should have a clear understanding of medical informatics and technologies. This is the case because modern technologies will continue to reshape the future of nursing. Educators should be able to apply different research skills in nursing.
Nurse Informaticists play a significant role in improving the nature of clinical practice and primary care. The professionals guide other caregivers to provide adequate support through the use of different medical technologies. These professionals are technologically-savvy and can join different teams to maximize the health outcomes of the targeted patients. They usually guide other practitioners to use technologies in an attempt to improve the health outcomes of more patients.
These professionals guide institutions to acquire the right devices that might support the health needs of more citizens (Moen & Knudsen, 2013). The individuals must have completed a master’s degree. The use of informatics in nursing administration is something critical. These professionals should possess appropriate leadership and decision-making skills in order to undertake various administrative roles in clinical settings. The field of informatics is taken seriously whenever engaging in new nursing researches. This means that NIs possess useful research competencies regarding the use of new technologies in nursing.
The Nurse Administrator (NA) is very broad because it covers all the aspects of nursing. NAs should have the required academic knowledge. The NA academic path focuses on the administrative roles that can be undertaken in healthcare settings. The master’s degree program equips professionals with powerful administrative competencies and leadership skills. NAs can guide the education process by presenting powerful concepts and practices for nursing students.
Such dexterities can make more nursing students competent leaders. The possession of such skills makes it easier for NAs to guide their followers in both primary care and clinical practice settings. The administrative role ensures the right resources, human capital, and working conditions favor the outcomes of the targeted patient. The practitioners use their competencies to empower nurses and caregivers (Iglehart, 2013). NAs can undertake new research studies to come up with better approaches that can transform the nature of nursing.
Despite the above differences, the roles play a critical role in ensuring that the most desirable resources are available to more patients. NEs present the best ideas through continuous learning and presentation of powerful nursing resources. NPs work tirelessly to deliver quality support to more individuals from diverse backgrounds. NIs guide health institutions to acquire the right informatics and technologies that can improve the health outcomes of different patients (Moen & Knudsen, 2013).
Selected Advanced Practice Role: Nurse Practitioner
Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Several provisions and regulations guide the person of nurse practitioners in different states across the United States. The targeted state requires that NPs “perform various medical acts of diagnosis, treatment, and operation in accordance with the existing protocols” (Iglehart, 2013, p. 1937). The practitioner must be licensed before providing the required services in the state. Additionally, the practitioner must be a member of a nursing organization such as the American Nursing Association (ASA). The state requires NPs to “be aware of the guidelines that form the scope of practice” (Iglehart, 2013, p. 1937). One of the state’s requirements is that every NP should have completed a master’s degree program from a reputable nursing institution.
The code of conduct requires that NPs act ethically and uphold the standards of practice. For instance, NPs should never disclose patients’ data or information. Medical malpractices and misbehaviors can result in revocation of a NP’s license. Individuals planning to practice as NPs should “be certified by a nationally-recognized nursing authorization agency” (Iglehart, 2013, p. 1939). The legal requirements are critical towards ensuring that different practitioners in healthcare support the diverse needs of more people in the state.
Professional Membership
There are several professional organizations that support the welfare of many nurse practitioners using different guidelines, resources, and concepts. One of these organizations is the American Nursing Association (ANA). This association provides useful insights that can make more NPs successful. The second agency is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This organization guides its members in order to deliver evidence-based support to more patients.
The AANP avails a wide range of resources that can support the professional needs of many NPs (Jeffreys, 2008). The agency undertakes numerous researches that can improve the nature of nursing. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) provides useful skills and practices that can transform the nature of nursing. These resources will equip me with new competencies and skills thus making it easier for me to achieve my professional goals.
Competencies and Certification Requirements
The first critical issue before practicing as a NP is a certification. The professional must have a master’s degree in nursing. This academic level makes it easier for the caregiver to offer evidence-based to his or her clients. Before certification, the NP should have joined a major nursing body. The individual should be able to provide quality care to more patients. The other issue is the possession of the most desirable competencies.
The first issue is the possession of adequate nursing competencies. These include the ability to diagnose and treat diseases. The practitioner should possess powerful leadership skills in order to support different followers. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills make it easier for NPs to address the challenges affecting their healthcare facilities. Communication and decision-making skills are critical towards promoting the best health delivery models. Specific values such as empathy, dignity, integrity, and decisiveness are useful for NPs. The NPs should be able “to provide culturally-competent and evidence-based health support” (Douglas et al., 2011, p. 319). These aspects can make every NP a competent provider of quality medical services.
Organization, Setting, Population, and Colleagues
I am planning to work in a clinical health setting. Such settings are common in many healthcare organizations. The targeted organization will make it easier for me to support the diverse needs of many people and improve my nursing competencies. The clinical setting will ensure more professionals are involved throughout the healthcare delivery process (Douglas et al., 2011). The organization will make it easier for me to provide evidence-based care to more people from society. The clinical setting in the targeted hospital will make it easier for me to provide quality nursing services to more American citizens. This setting will target children, youths, and adults, and the elderly citizens (Douglas et al., 2011). This practice will support citizens from all racial groups.
The advanced role will make it easier for me to work with different colleagues. This is the case because NPs should form multidisciplinary teams in an attempt to maximize the health outcomes of more patients. The targeted colleagues include nurse aides, caregivers, physicians, psychologists, and nurse administrators. Nurse Informaticists will play a positive role in supporting my professional goals. Family members of the targeted patients will be involved in every healthcare delivery process. Physicians and pharmacists will be consulted in order to maximize the health outcomes of more patients (Douglas et al., 2011). Social workers and volunteers will also be requested to provide their inputs.
Leadership Attributes of the Advanced Practice Role
My Leadership Style
The completed exercise has indicated that I have a transactional leadership style. This style explains why I identify the specific roles that must be completed by my followers. The followers are empowered to focus on the targeted goals and support the needs of the targeted patients. Teamwork is encouraged thus making it easier for more people to achieve their potentials (Iglehart, 2013). This leadership approach guides me to monitor the performance of different followers and ensure the best results are realized.
Leadership Attributes
I possess various leadership competencies that have continued to support my personal and professional objectives. To begin with, I am a transactional leader (Douglas et al., 2011). This attribute makes it possible for me to lead, guide, and empower others. I always solve problems easily and make desirable decisions. This means that I have good problem-solving and decision-making skills. I always think critically in order to address the situations affecting my practice. It is my duty to act diligently and ethically in an attempt to empower my followers. I have also developed the best communication and listening skills. These competencies continue to support my professional goals as an NP.
However, I strongly believe that my cultural-competencies are underdeveloped. This is the case because I have not been able to provide care to more patients from diverse backgrounds (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). The other missing attribute is the ability to support my followers without being autocratic. More often than not, my leadership approach makes it impossible for me to achieve most of my goals.
Attaining and Evaluating the Missing Attributes
Healthcare professionals are required to undertake new activities and strategies that can improve their attributes. In order to attain the above missing attributes, I will interact with more people from diverse backgrounds. Such people will include workmates, patients, and community members. I will acquaint myself with the cultural values and practices associated with different people. I will use journal entries to monitor my progress. This evaluation approach will ensure specific areas for improvement are identified. The next stage will be to develop a democratic approach to leadership (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). This goal will be attained by embracing new leadership strategies and engaging in lifelong learning. Similarly, journal entries will be used to monitor the achievements recorded every month.
Health Policy and the Advanced Practice Role
The Robert Johnson Foundation outlines the major issues and policies associated with healthcare delivery in the country. There are different health policy issues that continue to affect the quality of care available to many citizens in the United States (Stang & Loth, 2011). After visiting the foundation’s website, the issue of early childhood intervention was selected as the best policy issue for analysis.
Current Policy
The current policy focuses mainly on academic education (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2016). The focus on academics only is something that has affected the health outcomes of many learners. School-going children are usually under pressure to achieve specific academic goals. This pressure makes it impossible for learners to engage in healthy lifestyles. Many schools have been associated with violence, drug use, and reduced extra-curriculum activities (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2016). The current policy makes it impossible for many children to have healthy lifestyles. Incidentally, many children tend to record poor health outcomes.
The current situation should be changed if more children are to record positive health outcomes. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports the Whole-Child Approach (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2016). This approach focuses on a holistic strategy aimed at addressing the behavioral, social, emotional, and physical health outcomes of more children. The strategy also seeks to support the academic goals of more children (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2016).
The holistic concept identifies the best practices for healthcare organizations, social workers, learning institutions, and family members. Such approaches can make it easier for these stakeholders to join hands and support the health needs of school-going children. The students will avoid drugs, focus on their studies, and engage in positive health behaviors. This policy change will ensure more children become responsible adults.
Proposed Path
The first approach to supporting the proposed health policy is transforming the country’s education system. By so doing, the curriculum will focus on the best health outcomes for more children (Stang & Loth, 2011). Stakeholders in the educational and health sectors must collaborate to develop new programs that can deliver the best goals.
The second approach entails the use of new policy measures. Such frameworks will ensure better laws are implemented to empower more educationists and teachers. The policies will be used to develop a new curriculum that encourages more people to engage in various healthy activities. The third strategy is educating more people in the community through the use of powerful campaigns. Such campaigns will encourage members of the community to support the needs of more children (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). The campaigns should focus on issues such as childhood obesity, physical exercises, and positive eating habits.
Social workers and healthcare professionals should be part of this policy change. These practitioners can present positive ideas that can make it possible for more families to improve the health outcomes of their children. Schools will be required to redesign new curriculums that consider the need of physical exercises (Iglehart, 2013). These measures will play a positive role in supporting the whole-child concept.
Leading the Effort
As a Nurse Practitioner (NP), it will be appropriate to be part of the policy change process. To begin with, I will design a powerful campaign that targets different members of society. The campaign will outline the gaps affecting more children and their health implications. Issues such as obesity prevention and control of dental caries in children will be considered (Waters et al., 2014). I will go further to educate more teachers and parents in order to implement new programs. Such approaches will make it easier for the whole-child policy to succeed. I will write memos and whitepapers to different policymakers. Such policymakers will embrace the new idea because it can make a big difference.
Effect on Healthcare Quality
A program that addresses the health problems affecting children results in a healthy nation. This is the case because the children will eventually become healthy adults. The policy will ensure more societies embrace the best initiatives that can address or prevent the health issues affecting children. By so doing, the children will receive quality support and eventually realize their goals. The implementation of this policy will address the health issues affecting every child (Waters et al., 2014). This means that the quality of health care available to more children will improve significantly.
Conclusion
Healthcare professionals should possess specific competencies in order to support the needs of more patients. The roles of NIs, NPs, NAs, and NEs work synergistically to guide nursing and maximize the health outcomes of more clients. NPs should consider specific leadership skills and certifications in order to achieve their professional goals (Iglehart, 2013). The implementation of the proposed new policy will ensure early intervention averts a wide range of diseases affecting the country’s children such as dental caries and obesity. The policy will eventually improve the health outcomes of many children in the country.
References
Douglas, M., Pierce, J., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D., Callister, L., Hattar-Pollara, M.,…Purnell, L. (2011). Standards of practice for culturally competent nursing care: 2011 update. Journal of Trans-cultural Nursing, 22(4), 317-333.
Iglehart, J. (2013). Expanding the role of advanced nurse practitioners: risks and rewards. The New England Journal of Medicine, 368(1), 1935-1941.
Jeffreys, M. (2008). Dynamics of diversity: becoming better nurses through diversity awareness. NSNA Imprint, 1(1), 37-41.
Moen, A., & Knudsen, L. (2013). Nursing informatics: decades of contribution to health informatics. Healthcare Informatics Research, 19(2), 86-92.
Naylor, M., & Kurtzman, E. (2010). The role of nurse practitioners in reinventing primary care. Health Affairs, 29(5), 893-899.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2016). Can early childhood interventions improve health and well-being? Web.
Stang, J., & Loth, A. (2011). Parenting style and child feeding practices: potential mitigating factors in the etiology of childhood obesity. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(9), 1301-1305.
Waters, E., de Silva-Sanigorski, A., Burford, B., Brown, T., Campbell, K., Gao, Y.,…Summerbell, C. (2014). Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Sao Paulo Medical Journal, 132(2), 128-129.