Essay on the Role of a Nurse Practitioner

Role of a Nurse Practitioner

Research the role of the Nurse Practitioner.
Select and describe an Advanced Nurse Practitioner role.
Why are you becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
Find one research article, expert opinion about the Nurse Practitioner role and summarize the article.
What does the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) say about the need of Nurse Practitioners?
Identify and describe the effects that you will have as an advanced practice nurse in terms of healthcare industry and patient outcomes.
Submission Instructions:
clear and concise no improper grammar, punctuation and misspelling.
3 pages in length, excluding the title, abstract and references page.
minimum of 5 current (published within last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles and books should be referenced according to current APA style.

Solution: The role of the Nurse Practitioner Essay Assignment

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with expert knowledge and competencies. Like registered nurses, NPs perform some similar tasks, but they have additional training and are therefore permitted to perform more roles and provide services that physicians offer (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2022). They are qualified to perform a number of clinical functions, which include conducting physical assessments, interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnosing and managing diseases, writing prescriptions, coordinating care, and educating patients. Depending on their role, NPs practice in many different settings, such as hospitals, emergency rooms, physicians’ offices, urgent care, nursing homes, and schools, among others (Torrens et al., 2020).

Advanced Nurse Practitioner Role

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are APRNs focused on the provision of primary health care services to all populations, from infants to the elderly populations. Some of their roles include doing physical check-ups, diagnosing different illnesses, managing chronic diseases, preventive services, and health promotion. FNPs can practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health centers, private physicians or NPs’ offices, and schools. FNPs work as primary care providers since they are the first people patients visit when seeking care and are the main healthcare providers for families (Balestra, 2019). They are also able to provide consistent long-term care since they care for patients from childhood to adulthood, forming strong relationships with them, thus improving the health of such patients.

Reason for Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

My reason for choosing to be a nurse practitioner was to expand the scope of my practice and offer individualized comprehensive care for patients with acute conditions and those needing long-term health management. I wanted to work with diverse populations and enhance my relationship with patients to enhance their health and experience in healthcare facilities. When caring for patients, I have learned that many of them hardly get providers who will understand their needs and spend enough time with them to ensure they are content with the services they are receiving. As a nurse practitioner, I will be able to improve the care of my patients and extend healthcare services to all patients. I can make a contribution to solving problems in health insurance coverage, quality care, patient rights, health literacy, and disease prevention, especially among vulnerable groups.

Research Article

Htay and Whitehead’s (2021) study reviews the impact of the nurse practitioner role in contrast to physician-led or usual care. The study revealed that the care offered by NPs in place of physicians had positive effects on general patient care and outcomes. The study revealed that practices headed by NPs had better outcomes in preventive care services, such as the evaluation of blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking, to reduce cardiovascular diseases. Nurse practitioners are safe and effective in treating acute and chronic diseases, are as good or even better than physicians in managing many conditions, and significantly affect patient outcomes (Htay & Whitehead, 2021). Results of the study indicated that embracing NPs in various healthcare settings can relieve the burden of the physicians and consequently the time patients spend waiting, improve the quality of health care, and the efficiency of the healthcare system, and ultimately reduce the cost of healthcare services.

Institute of Medicine and the Need for Nurse Practitioners

The Institute of Medicine (IOM), now known as the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), discusses the need for nurse practitioners in its report, The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. The IOM notes that NPs are now necessary components of healthcare systems that can help address the growing need for care in primary care settings and address health disparities for populations who have limited access to healthcare services. The report recognizes the role of NPs in expanding access to health care for uninsured patients, Medicaid patients, and rural and disadvantaged populations (Wakefield et al., 2021). The IOM offers recommendations to increase the roles and responsibilities of NPs in order to eliminate restrictions on their practice, which contribute to inadequate access to health care, reduce the cost of healthcare services, and improve quality of care for rural and other underserved populations.

Effects of My Role as an Advanced Practice Nurse

As an advanced practice nurse, I will impact the healthcare industry and patient outcomes by:

Increasing access to care for diverse populations. My role in the community will help address provider shortages in primary care so patients can receive timely and quality care. I will also advocate for patients to ensure they receive equitable access to healthcare services.

Providing high-quality care at lower costs to make healthcare more affordable for low-income families (Wakefield et al., 2021). I will also contribute to lower healthcare costs by promoting preventative care, helping patients manage chronic conditions effectively, and utilizing resources efficiently.

Empowering patients through health education to ensure they understand their condition and make informed decisions that will ensure they adhere to treatment. This will also promote healthier lifestyles and reduce the incidence of preventable conditions.

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2022). Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners. AANP.

Balestra, M. L. (2019). Family nurse practitioner scope of practice issues when treating patients with mental health issues. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 15(7), 479-482.

Htay, M., & Whitehead, D. (2021). The effectiveness of the role of advanced nurse practitioners compared to physician-led or usual care: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 3, 100034.

Torrens, C., Campbell, P., Hoskins, G., Strachan, H., Wells, M., Cunningham, M., … & Maxwell, M. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the advanced nurse practitioner role in primary care settings: a scoping review. International journal of nursing studies, 104, 103443.

Wakefield, M., Williams, D. R., Le Menestrel, S., & Flaubert, J. L. (Eds.). (2021). The future of nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academy of Sciences.