An APN (Advanced Professional Nurse) refers to individuals having advanced training in line with having the applicable certifications that provide them with the opportunity for providing healthcare services in distinct healthcare environments. The demand for healthcare is growing and physician numbers are not keeping up with the demand. Therefore, APNs have emerged as treasured partners in providing the much-needed healthcare services receive. The state of Georgia required APNs to be registered nurses and have graduate qualification in an area of specialty. Upon graduation, they must apply for registration to work legally in the state.
In professional career development, it is important to conduct personal assessment. One of the tools for undertaking such a task is the Benner's Novice to Expert Model, and based on that model, I assess my skills level at stage. However, I want to grow into the field and gain more skills. I will focus on the gaining the skills needed to move to higher skill levels in the model. In the meantime, getting a job is a critical consideration and joining professional organization a good way to network and explore opportunities for employment. Professional magazines often contain job adverts but it is still possible to access opportunities not advertised through networks.
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NP Scope of Practice
For the APN’s scope of practice, it depicts the duties and requirements for the given position. It is crucial because it provides a plan for the regulations and guidelines that APNs should follow. In this sense, they make sure that nurses exercise expertise and ethics when delivering healthcare services. For the APN practice, it revolves around scientific proof while it applies in distinct healthcare environments. Distinct dimensions comprising of healthcare education, leadership, research, and mentorship are crucial when it comes boosting the nursing practice. Just as laws apply, the scope usually differs depending on countries and states. They also ensure to regulate the ways in which APNs practice their duties.
To practice as APN in the state of Georgia, The Georgia Board of Nursing requires the applicant to meet certain conditions. The nurse must be a qualified registered nurse working in the state and if he or she holds a license in another state, the person wishing to practice must apply for licensure by Endorsement to apply for a Georgia RN license. For new graduate of an approved learning institution, the applicant must apply for licensure by exam. The basic qualification is degree in nursing and then a graduate degree in an area of specialty or a track such as Family Nurse Practitioner, which is currently my track, or the Adult Nurse Practitioner, among other specialties. On prescribing, APNs in the state can prescribe if they are authorized to do that and have submitted the written protocol with the supervising physician.
Personal Assessment
According to Benner, the acquisition of clinical competence goes through five levels of proficiency, namely, novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and the expert. At the novice stage, the nurse has no experience in situations expected to perform and lacks the confidence to demonstrate practice. The nurse requires verbal and physical cues and cannot use discretionary judgment for lack of experience and confidence. During the second stage, the nurse demonstrates a certain level of acceptable performance due to limited experience. In some parts of practice, the nurse is proficient but deficient in others and requires supportive cues. Knowledge is developing and the nurse is course to gaining more competence.
A nurse at the third stage shows competence because has or she has 2-3 years of experience. The nurse is efficient, is coordinated, and has confidence in his or her actions. He is able to develop a personal perspective based on the present situation at work. The ability to form a conscious, abstract, analytic contemplation of the problem at hand allows the nurse to develop a personal perspective. Also, with the new ability to plan, the nurse can achieve high levels of organization and efficiency. The nurse completes care duties assigned to him at this stage within the allocated period and without the need for the supporting cues.
The proficient nurse has gained considerable experience over the years and is able to perceive situations as a whole as opposed to the parts of aspects. Learning to link situations in terms of long term goals gives the nurse the broad perspective. Moreover, as an experience nurse, he is aware of standard events in specific situation so is ready. Typically, no two care situation is the same but experience again allows the nurse modify intervention to suit the current case. The holistic understanding improves the decision-making and effectiveness. The nurse has the perspective, which underlies the existing attributes and aspects relevant to a case he or she might be handling.
A nurse at the expert level is highly experienced has an intuitive grasp on everything. He can quickly identify a problem without wasting too much time in wasteful consideration of productive and unpromising interventions or possible solutions. The nurse is also fluid and flexible and advanced analytical skills come handy when handling an unfamiliar situation or case.
Based on the Benner's Novice to Expert Model, I would asses myself as largely competent but should address a few areas. There are a few areas I want to the focus and develop such as planning and decision-making. As a nurse who is yet to reach higher levels of expertise due to limited experience, I want to focus more on learning how to plan for the certain situation for purposes of being ready. Planning increases the chances of dealing with a new situation competently as possible complications are thought beforehand and contingencies addressed. I also need to focus on gaining more experience.
I look forward to caring for my patients. As a nurse, I have developed a passion for my practice and often look forward to caring for patients and serving them as APNs. I also look forward to gaining additional experience mentioned earlier. Experience gives the nurse a new perspective and consolidates theoretical learning. According to Benner's Novice to Expert Model experience is the most important aspect of the gaining proficiency and expertise in nursing. Finally, I also look forward at advancing my career in my chosen, a combination of passion, experience, and continuous learning and development is the surest way of advancing in the career.
However, despite the positive attitude, I also harbor certain fears. One of those fears is malpractice. Malpractice can lead to huge problems and that is why I consciously commit myself to continuous learning and gaining as much experience as possible. I also fear normal problems that nurses have to deal with such as burnout or lack a loss of passion at some point. However, I have learnt that increasing knowledge, having a mentor, and seeking out new care experiences can militate against the fear. Moreover, growing competence increases confidence on the job, which in turn makes work meaningful and even enjoyable.
I hope to gain new knowledge and skills form the new experience. Every change to care for a patient is an opportunity to learn something new and to practice a skill gained earlier. In term of dealing with stress, I love to sleep as much as possible to relax and allow the body to recover, especially after a long shift. I also love to foster a positive work environment and maintaining good relations with colleagues and patients. Most stress is work related and due to poor social relationship. Third, i love to walk in the woods and enjoy nature.
My first goal is to learn my way around the workplace, know who to consult, when, the protocols to follow, and such work related bureaucracy. The second goal is to establish relationship with my supervisor, fellow colleagues, nurse leaders, and others, as they are important for my daily work. Third, is to start working or caring for patient in accordance with my training and professional experience.
Network and Marketing Strategies
One of the professional organizations available for nurses in the state of Georgia is Georgia Nurses Association. Founded in 1907, it is the largest such organization in the state and the oldest. Another organization is Georgia’s Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (CAPRN), which was founded in 2010 and has more than 20 affiliate organizations such as American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Georgia Chapter, American College of Nurse-Midwives Georgia Affiliate, and many others. United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia is dedicated to improving access to healthcare for the citizens of the state of Georgia. These organizations afford excellent networking opportunities.
The membership of the organizations mentioned above, including many others such as the affiliate associations of national nursing organizations, offer many benefits. The most important are access to the official journal of the ANA, the American Nurse Today, free access to Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN), access to the shared interest and local chapters, and avenues to connect with leaders in the profession. Reading the journals themselves exposes nurses to the latest in the profession, including employment opportunities. Employers place adverts in the professional magazines because they are sure of reaching out to the right audience.
Meeting with fellow nurses via the professional organization is important. Most employers do not advertise new opportunities publicly but rely on the head hunting or referrals. By joining local networks and shared interest group, that increases chances of getting information on such jobs via colleagues in the profession. Moreover, membership of professional organizations creates chances for contacting with nurse leaders and others with positions of responsibilities including hiring. Thus, it is easier to get a job by getting into contact with those people. Even when they lack the capacity to hire, they are influential in hiring decision as human resource department often consult with nurse leaders when hiring.
In addition to the networking via the organization for marketing purposes, making those professional contact advances career goals in other areas too. Nurse leaders, for instance, are good mentors and coaches. Success in the nursing profession is not just dependent on acquisition of professional qualification but by being in contact with the experienced and respected professionals in the field already. Therefore, I can use the professional networks within the organization to get mentors and coaches. The work of a mentor is to encourage, offer support, and guide a new member. In the longer term, joining the professional organization is good for my career.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the demand for APN services is high, but the nurse must meet all the relevant conditions for registration as set out by the Georgia Board of Nursing. For APNs, the scope of work is defined by their areas of specialties although they might handle general duties. They can prescribe drugs but they need authorization from the board and must have submitted the written protocol with the supervising physician. As an APN on family nurse practitioner track, assess my skills at competent level based on the Benner's Novice to Expert Model. I plan to gain more skills and competence in the course of the new job. On job network and marketing strategies, I hope to use professional organizations and magazines to network and access job opportunities.
References
Georgias Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. (2019). Georgias Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Retrieved from https://caprn.org/.
Graduate Nursing. (2019). Steps to Becoming an APRN in Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.graduatenursingedu.org/georgia/.
Nursing Licensure . (2019). Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License Requirements in Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.nursinglicensure.org/np-state/georgia-nurse-practitioner.html.
Nursing Network. (2019). Georgia Nurses Association: Nursing Network. Retrieved from https://georgianurses.nursingnetwork.com/.
