Nursing as a profession is dynamic in nature with additions to the profession occurring in line with latest evidence from research. Accordingly, Hanson & Hamric (2003) have gone a great length in widening the understanding the concept of advance practice nursing (APN). In essence, through the article titled “Reflections on the Continuing Evolution of Advanced Practice Nursing”, the authors have not only laid the stages through which advanced practice nursing has evolved, but it has also provided a holistic definition of the concept as well as clarifying the issues that arise with regards to the evolving roles of advanced practicing nurses.
The article by Hanson & Hamric (2003) raises a number of thoughts and feelings in relation to the practice of nursing. I opine that, the researchers’ approach to delineate the steps through which APN has evolved over the years provides readers, nursing students, practicing nurses, and clinicians with the view of nursing as not being static but rather dynamic and driven by research. In essence, APN has evolved through the stages of specialty development in practice settings, organized specialty setting, and standardization and emergence of graduate education. By delineating such steps, I feel this approach offers an opportunity for stakeholders in the nursing field such as nursing students, practicing nurses, and clinicians to have an impetus of participating in the development of the profession through facilitating more research that would be used to better the profession.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The authors have made sure to provide a holistic two-part definition of APN as the utilization of practical, theoretical, and research-based therapeutics to specialized areas of patient care coupled with certain key competencies (Hanson & Hamric, 2003). My thought is that the definition is comprehensive and offers both the purpose of APN and the competencies required before venturing into the field. As such, I feel that this article is a gold mine of information for all aspiring advanced practice nurses as it states the key competencies that one must have in order to be successful in this aspect of the profession. The competencies listed by the authors include expert coaching and guidance, consultation, research skills, clinical and professional leadership, collaboration, and ethical decision-making skills. Such exploration of the requisite competencies helps one to prepare beforehand before aspiring to become an APN.
In the article Hanson & Hamric (2003), expound on issues arising with regards to APN roles. Some of the issues which the authors have discussed as being important in this sub specialty include clarity regarding the definition of APN and the key competencies required for the practice, the need for internal cohesion throughout the profession, the standardization of APN curricula for competency at the Advanced Practice Level, issues relating to the certification and credentialing of APN, and external factors that have an impact on the practice of APN such as legal and regulatory frameworks. It is my opinion that such information will be useful to aspiring APNs as they would make necessary preparations before choosing to pursue this line of career.
In a nutshell, the article by Hanson & Hamrick raises important and thoughtful points that broaden the concept of advance practice nursing. The provision of the stages of evolution of nursing practice which led to the birth of APN and well as the comprehensive definition of APN is a feature that allows aspiring nurses brace themselves before pursuing the line of career. Moreover, through listing the issues relating to the role of the APN, Hanson & Hamrick enables the stakeholders in the nursing profession to identify what role they can play in ensuring that the concept of APN is practiced to its perfection.
Reference
Hanson, C. M. & Hamric, A. B. (2003) Reflections on the Continuing Evolution of Advanced Practice Nursing Nursing Outlook 51; 203-211
