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Advanced Practice Nursing Roles
Nurses and other health practitioners can pursue courses in advanced clinical practice to improve their knowledge and scope of service. Advanced practitioners focus on specific areas, and undergo a series of trainings to be conversant with their specialty. Advanced practice nursing requires practitioners to focus on clinical practices, primary care, education, administrative and managerial roles, and health informatics. An Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) is an example of an advanced practitioner who works with adults starting from adolescence stage. The practitioner must have the right qualifications and capacity to work with others while offering their services. The study illustrates how AGNPs play significant functions, which makes it necessary to refine the policies that determine the reimbursement that such employees receive. Having the right qualifications and being able to collaborate with others provide an AGNP with good chances to excel in their health care services, especially when relating with patients and other practitioners.
Description and Roles in Advanced Practice Nursing
Advanced practice nursing refers to the clinical practices delivered by registered and experienced health and care specialists. Advanced practice nursing entails the capacity to handle clinical care in collaboration with patients, family members, and other caregivers (NHS, 2020). It encompasses the synthesis and evaluation of intricate issues across a broad range of settings, enabling innovative ideas and solutions to improve people’s experiences and enhance results (NHS, 2020). The description requires that health practitioners serving at the capacity of advanced practice nursing will show autonomy and effective decision-making capabilities in a context of uncertainty, complexity, and risks, and being accountable for all decisions.
Practitioners at the level of advanced practice nursing play significant roles relating to clinical practice, primary care, education, administration, and health information. Regarding clinical practice, the health and care practitioners working at the level of advanced practice nursing should practice in line with the code of professional conduct, and should know how to demonstrate their autonomy and their expanded level of responsibility (NHS, 2020). The professionals should always act professionally when seeking guidance, as well as display high sense of openness, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. Advanced practitioners (APs) perform primary care roles that serve as the first level of medical care, and which entails assigning specific nurses to attend to designated patients (NHS, 2020). More fundamentally, the position of an advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) requires the specialists to strive towards achieving high-quality and cost-effective healthcare service provision. Concerning education, advanced clinical practice requires ACPs to critically evaluate their capabilities and strengths with regard to developing a plan that would enlighten people about their health needs (NHS, 2020). The specialists interact with, appraise, and react to individuals’ capacity, motivations, and development stage, working as a team to promote health literacy and encourage people to take part in decision-making on matters that can improve their health and well-being. The ACPs serve administrative roles by pro-actively initiating and developing proper relationships, promoting clarity of roles within team members, to enhance productive working (NHS, 2020). The specialists serve as role models who shape the values of their places of work, displaying a person-oriented style to service delivery and development. Advanced practice nursing requires professionals to have adequate knowledge on nursing informatics, which is an area in nursing that incorporates computer and ICT to improve the management and utilization of medical information and systems to facilitate nursing practices, and to better the results of patient care (Darvish, Bahramnezhad, Keyhanian & Navidhamidi, 2014). The wide range of roles performed by ACPs make the position demanding in terms of knowledge and skills.
Depending on individual goals when pursuing an advanced nursing degree, a person may choose to either venture in advanced nursing practice (ANP) or advanced practice nursing (APN). ANP is a type of APN meaning that an AP can further their skills and competence to enter the field of APN. The two, however, share some similar functions such as working with a broad range of people, prescribing medicines, and must acquire certification from a credible registration body. Both ANP and APN require high level of qualification and specialists in these categories perform a wide range of duties.
Description of Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
I would love to serve in the position of an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) where I will play the roles of an advanced practice nurse (APN) with a special focus on treating patients from adolescence stage through adulthood and into old age. The AGNP works with a wider patient population in many settings, from clinics to hospitals and private practice, and enjoys more autonomy than a conventional registered nurse (RN) (Registered Nursing, 2020). Unlike most registered nurses, the AGNP has the capacity to assess diagnostic outcomes, formulate and implement treatment plans for patients, and prescribe medication. The features that make an AGNP different from other RNs make the position more appealing.
I feel that I have the qualities and experiences of serving as an AGNP, which influence me to pursue the position. I have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, and I am presently pursuing a Master’s degree, which are all important requirements to serve as an AGNP. Furthermore, I have clinical experience that I regard as being essential in helping me become an effective practitioner. I feel that I am in a good position to work as an AGNP because I have other key skills such as effective critical-thinking and communication skills, interpersonal and leadership skills, and I am compassionate and resourceful. My philosophy would be to serve every person with equality while aspiring to achieve quality care. I believe that my desire to become an AGNP and the skills I have will lead me towards delivering the best outcome.
Selected Advanced Practice Role
Mahmoud Ali Kaddoura is an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco. Before joining his current workplace, Dr. Kaddoura tutored both undergraduate and graduate students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Duke University. The practitioner has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing and Nursing Education, as well as a PhD in Health Professions Education (University of San Francisco, 2020). Dr. Kaddoura holds a post-master’s certificate in primary care AGNP as well a post-doctoral certificate in mental health. The Assistant Professor’s competence in applying technology and creating effective educational strategies to adapt to the trainees’ learning approaches and advancer their learning outcomes have been identified and honored with numerous accolades for research and teaching excellence (University of San Francisco, 2020). An online interview with the AGNP reveals a lot of helpful information regarding the advanced clinical practice that may benefit individuals who aspire to ascend to the position.
Dr. Kaddoura says that a person requires the right qualifications to serve as an AGNP. He says that one begins with graduating from high school and then attending an undergraduate program that lasts 2 to 4 years. The practitioner says that the most common course for aspiring AGNP is to complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree (Registered Nursing, 2020). Nonetheless, those who are not able to complete their undergraduate degree can get an associate degree in nursing and still become a registered nurse (Registered Nursing, 2020). The interviewee says that a person must then become a registered nurse and complete adult nurse practitioner programs validated by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (Registered Nursing, 2020). The practitioner says that attending a graduate program offers a person the chance to choose to focus on adult gerontology. More importantly, the specialist says that a person must complete 500 hours of faculty-guided practices at the clinic while relating with different populations.
Dr. Kaddoura says that an AGNP works in a broad range of settings and relates with a diverse population and colleagues while performing their duties. He says that a person can serve in places such as institutions of higher learning, health facilities, research centers, rehabilitation centers, or can initiate their private firms. The practitioner will work with adult patients throughout their life, including those who suffer from acute injuries or illnesses. Dr. Kaddoura informs that an AGNP while engaging in primary care works with a wide range of patient population that encompasses adults of all age groups. The practitioner says that an AGNP collaborates with other APs such as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) among other RNs such as nurse educators, nurse informaticists, and nurse administrators (Registered Nursing, 2020). Dr. Kaddoura’s responses suggest that an AGNP should be flexible enough to serve and relate with a diverse population.
The practitioner informs that several professional organizations are available for membership for AGNPs. The practitioner says that an AGNP can become a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) that publishes and educates specialists about so many things, including observing the four pillars of advanced clinical practice, which are clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research (NHS, 2020). Dr. Kaddoura informs that a practitioner can join a professional organization based on their state because a specialist in Alabama can join the North Alabama Nurse Practitioner Association, an AGNP in Alaska can join the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association, and so forth. The answers by Dr. Kaddoura illustrates clearly that AGNPs can choose from a wide variety of professional organizations where they can work as a team as well as acquire more insight into their work.
Leadership Attributes of the AP Role
The leadership style I will apply while serving as an AGNP is transformational leadership, which entails empowering others and making them independent. The leadership style shall make it possible to work with team members to identify necessary transformation, formulate a vision to direct the transformation through inspirations, and instituting the transformation in accordance with the commitment of the team members (Alqatawenh, 2018). It is a suitable leadership approach because it shall instill motivation and courage to workers, which will improve performance. The leadership style is more appropriate because it challenges followers to take greater possession of their decisions and work, as well as to know the strengths and limitations of the subjects (Alqatawenh, 2018). Using the transformational leadership style provides a suitable chance to achieve the desired managerial outcome while serving as an AGNP.
I feel that some of my qualities will enable me to serve as a transformational leader quite effectively. I have acquired so much knowledge about transformational leadership throughout my education about transformational leadership and its benefits on both the leader and followers (Alqatawenh, 2018). I know that transformational leadership minimizes turnover costs because leaders tend to retain workers more often that other styles of leadership (Alqatawenh, 2018). I have learned that utilizing transformational leaders seek to meet the wants of the firm as they strive to achieve their personal wants simultaneously. Furthermore, my ability to think critically and my effective communication skills will enable me to serve as a transformational leader who interacts with everyone in the appropriate manner.
Health Policy and the AP Role
NPs play essential roles in offering cost effective and high-quality care but the challenge of deciphering how state and federal laws, often depicted in general terms, apply to particular practice situations can hamper groups from fully gaining or using NPs. More fundamentally, wide discrepancies in policies and guidelines of third-party payers on reimbursement for nurse practitioners services make the search for better payment a tough journey for many practitioners (Buppert, 2002). The issue is that Medicare finances 80% of the patient’s fee for the services they get from a physician while the patient pays only 20% (Buppert, 2002). Medicare reimburses nurse practitioners 85% of the physician’s fee as stipulated in the Medicare’s Physicians Fee Schedule so that Medicare settles about 80% of the 85% Fee Schedule (Buppert, 2002). The rate seems to be lower compared with the 100% reimbursement that Medicare pays to minimum data set nurses. The discrepancy calls for a revision of the existing policy to develop a structure that would makes NPs more satisfied.
The officers in charge of the Social Security Administration that is under the management of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should initiate policy transformations that will improve Medicare reimbursement to NPs. The officers may adjust the reimbursement NPs receive by increasing the share they receive from Medicare each time they offer services to patients. The Congress, representatives from the federal government, and groups representing NPs should all come together to agree on the best rates to eradicate the feeling that some health practitioners get better reimbursement than others yet the importance in their roles and responsibilities are almost similar. I can contribute towards the policy change by marshalling other NPs to strengthen their calls for transformation. Changing the reimbursement policy will result in the formation of a workforce that is happier and more dedicated to perform their functions.
Conclusion
The study illustrates how one must acquire adequate skills and competence to serve as an AGNP because APs in this area work with a broad range of people and in a variety of settings. An AGNP, like any other AP, must have the capacity to engage in clinical practices, serve as leaders, educate, and perform researches. An interview with Dr. Kaddoura who is an AGNP reveals that individuals who aspire to join the profession should have a strong educational background as well as effective interactive and interpersonal skills. Serving as an AGNP requires one to employ transformational leadership that empowers and transforms followers into competent and self-reliant individuals. The study shows the importance of improving the reimbursement NPs receive to increase satisfaction and the desire to serve.
References
Alqatawenh, A. (2018). Transformational leadership style and its relationship with change
management. Business: Theory and Practice, 19(3), 17–24.
Buppert, C. (2002). Billing for nurse practitioner services: Guidelines for NPs, physicians,
employers, and insurers. Retrieved March 22, 2020, from
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%20Employers%20and%20Insurers.pdf
Darvish, A., Bahramnezhad, F., Keyhanian, S., & Navidhamidi, M. (2014). The role of nursing
informatics on promoting quality of health care and the need for appropriate education.
Global Journal of Health Science, 6(6), 11–18.
NHS. (2020). Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England. Retrieved March 22, 2020, from https://www.lasepharmacy.hee.nhs.uk/dyn/_assets/_folder4/advanced-practice/multi-professionalframeworkforadvancedclinicalpracticeinengland.pdf
Registered Nursing. (2020). Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). Retrieved March 22,
2020, from registerednursing.org/nurse-practitioner/gerontology/
University of San Francisco. (2020). Mahmoud Ali Kaddoura, PhD, CAGS, MSN, APRN, NP-C,
CNE. Retrieved March 22, 2020, from https://www.usfca.edu/faculty/mahmoud-
kaddoura
Woo, B., Lee, J., & Tam, W. (2017). The impact of the advanced practice nursing role on quality
of care, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost in the emergency and critical care
settings: A systematic review. Human Resources for Health, 15(63), https://human-
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