Advanced practice nurses have to move beyond the essential competencies of their profession and incorporate advanced science-based theories into their work. Zaccagnini and Pechacek (2019) discuss Neumann’s system model, which depicts people and groups as systems that have to remain stable and healthy. The theory analyzes wellness from several perspectives and helps medical workers organize interventions to address any risks. To do so, they will use skills from various areas of nursing and organize a comprehensive program. Doing so may be beyond the capabilities of registered nurses, and so advanced practice nurses have to address the topic.
The systems theory is an abstraction from reality, and health workers have to apply it without forgetting that they work with people. DeNisco and Barker (2016) describe Henderson’s theory, which identifies fourteen basic human needs that are common in all patients. Nurses have to work with the physical, mental, and spiritual health of patients as well as other aspects of their well-being. The satisfaction of patient needs is critical to the success of care regardless of whether the person voices their discomfort over specific aspects. As such, nurses have to know essential patient issues and requirements without being told.
Lastly, advanced practice nurses act as leaders in the advancement and evolution of nursing science, and so, they have to be intimately familiar with the nature of knowledge. Butts and Rich (2018) discuss the concept of emancipatory knowledge, which enables one to view a situation from the outside and propose improvements that promote wellness. The profession has evolved significantly over the last century with the help of the concept, as the emergence of advanced practice nursing shows, but there are still many barriers to it in the U.S. and worldwide. Medical leaders have to be ready to address these issues satisfactorily.
References
Butts, J.B., & Rich, K.L. (2018). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
DeNisco, S.M., & Barker, A.M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J.M. (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.