NR 500 Week 4 APN Professional Development Plan Paper

Sample Answer

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) Practice Requirements in California

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) undergo advanced training that enable them to provide an almost similar level of medical assistance as physicians. NPs can be found in almost every healthcare setting, from emergency rooms to public health departments (Blair & Rolls, 2019). The authors further state that the scope of practice of NPs involves conducting patient assessments, making diagnoses, and coordinating care. Furthermore, Traczynski and Udalova (2018) discuss that professionals can order, perform, as well as interpret diagnostic and lab tests. Additionally, they have the power to initiate treatment via prescribing medication and other non-pharmacological interventions (Blair & Rolls, 2019).

Some of the core competencies of the practitioners include consultation, research, ethical decision-making, professional leadership, expert coaching, and direct clinical practice (Thomas et al., 2017). NPs also have exemplify exceptional leadership competencies as they work in fast-changing and complex environments that demand high flexibility and coordination. Thus, skills such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and effective communication are necessary in their work environments (Lamb et al., 2018). Across the United States, varying demands are placed on the practitioners. This paper examines and highlights the scope of practice of NPs in California alongside the core competencies and leadership skills they need to excel while fulfilling their duties.

APN Scope of Practice

Educational and Licensure Requirements for NPs in California

The state in which I intend to practice after graduation is California. The minimum educational requirements for an NP in this state are a master’s degree in the specialty field one wishes to practice in. The California Board of Registered Nursing (CBRN) recognizes and certifies six groups of advanced practice nurses (APNs) clinical nurse specialists, anesthetists, midwives, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, and public health nurses (“Steps to Becoming,” n.d.). Therefore, a person seeking to work in California as an APN should come from an academic background related to any of the six categories and be an active registered nurse (RN) in the state.

Only public health nurses can be registered without a master’s degree in the specialty area; they need, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree (“Steps to Becoming,” n.d.). A person can then apply for APN licensure by CBRN once they satisfy the outlined educational requirements This process varies based on the field of specialty of applicants. However, all candidates pay an application fee of $75, undergo a verification of their educational competencies, upload their passport photos, and face a criminal background check (“Steps to Becoming,” n.d.). Furthermore, NPs can apply for prescriptive authority after receiving their certification. The NP can then practice in California fully after the successful processing of their application documents and criminal background clearance.

Regulatory Requirements and Prescriptive Authority

NPs in California can only perform the same roles as an RN independently. Thus, for one to perform roles outside the scope of an RN, they require to do so in collaboration with a supervising physician. As such, California follows a restricting NP practice, whereby an NP can practice in at least one area of specialization and can only provide patient care under supervision (Peterson, 2017). For example, according to the California Business and Professions Code, NPs in the state must follow a standardized procedure developed and approved by the NP, a supervising surgeon and physician, or a facility administrator (“Chapter 6,” n.d.).

NPs must further seek authorization to perform overlapping medical functions, which are services that both the NP and another medical practitioner of a different capacity can perform. Furthermore, the nurse practitioners are required to have an arrangement with a supervisor or physician before they can prescribe medication or to order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests. These standardized procedures shield nurses from legal vulnerabilities. They define the acceptable services that the professionals can provide as established by their superiors and workplaces.

Nurse Practitioner (NONPF) Core Competencies

Personal Strengths

NP core competencies are guidelines that education providers use to prepare the professionals for licensed practice. There are nine major groups of NP core expertise, the first of which is scientific foundation, which involves the critical evaluation of data and evidence (Heinen et al., 2019; Chan et al., 2020). Since I aim to practice as an anesthetist, I have endeavored to improve my ability to do the same. The use of knowledge and information from the humanities and other sciences within nursing is also involved in scientific foundation competencies. Knowledge on different cultures and their perception of medicine is important in-patient education and counselling.

An NP’s competency in scientific foundation is defined by their ability to use research and other information outlets to improve processes and patient outcomes (Chan et al., 2020). Scientific research is widely used in the field of anesthetics to ensure patient safety and quality care. Further, an NP should be able to develop new practice approaches by combining research, theory and experience. The scientific foundation competencies, therefore, ensure that NPs graduate with an intricate understanding of medical sciences. I believe that I am competent in scientific foundation and can satisfactorily meet these competency requirements.

Practice inquiry core competencies involve the application of education and research to the clinical arena. Advancement in medicine is constant, with new information being discovered frequently. As such, my ability to synthesize and utilize this information illustrates that I can convert novel knowledge into practice. Furthermore, I can employ my clinical experience to guide in decision making, thereby, improving patient outcome. Another facet of the practice inquiry core competency is the application of clinical investigative skills to improve healthcare quality (Tractenberg et al., 2019).

As a healthcare provider, I am required to collaborate with others from different disciplines. This practice involves facilitation of inquiry and sharing information using different modalities. I, therefore, believe that practice inquiry core competency is a personal strength. The application of research to improve patient outcomes is the focus of practice inquiry competencies.

Opportunities For Growth

Health policies are a set of decisions that influence the allocation of health resources. Policy competencies, therefore, involve the understanding of legislation that guides resource allocations allowing NPs to influence the said legislation to eradicate social and health issues. I have had very little interest in politics and policies in the past. However, given the importance of policies in resource allocation, I find that it is our duty to get involved in policy making. Policy competencies include comprehending the interdependence between clinical practice and policy, advocating for ethical policies that promote access, quality and cost-effective health care, and understanding the ethical, legal, and social factors that affect the development of health policies (Tractenberg et al., 2019).

Additionally, policy competencies will see NPs assist in developing health guidelines, evaluate the implications of health policies, and analyze the effect of globalization in healthcare policies (Tractenberg et al., 2019). To improve on health policy competence, I will involve myself in advocating for ethical policies that promote access, quality, and cost-effective health care. My aim will be to understand how policies affect healthcare and how to develop them.

Health delivery system core competencies involve incorporating knowledge on organizations and systems to improve healthcare, use of negotiation, consensus-building, and relationship building to improve healthcare, as well as the minimization of patient and health practitioner risk (Tractenberg et al., 2019). I lack strength in health system competencies as I have not been involved in any of the above activities. To improve, I will pay more attention to studies concerning culture and how healthcare systems affect stakeholders and patients. Health delivery system competencies focus on educating NPs on healthcare reform and decision-making at an organizational level.

Other Core Competencies

Leadership competencies can enable NPs to take up advanced leadership positions to promote and guide change. Leadership additionally entails liaising between different healthcare parties to promote collaboration and improve the quality of healthcare. NPs are further required to show aptitude in their ability to think both critically and reflectively as leaders. Competency in the promotion of better access to quality and affordable health resources is also required (Chan et al., 2020). A leader should additionally endorse innovation and have impeccable oral and written communication skills. Leadership core competencies therefore guarantee that NPs comprehend their range of practice and lead effectively.

Quality core competencies are measured by the extent to which positive health outcomes have been realized based on available knowledge and standards. Quality competencies involve applying the best available research to perpetually improve the quality of clinical practice (Chan et al., 2020) and analyzing the relationship between cost, access, quality and safety and their influence on healthcare. Foreseeing change in practice and adaptation through interventions by NP is also expected to ensure that quality is maintained. Quality competencies focuses on utilizing available information to ensure that healthcare quality is either maintained or improved.

Technology and information literacy competencies involve the use of information and communication technology to generate, analyze, and share information. Technology and information literacy competencies, include competencies in using the right technologies for knowledge management to improve care, translating health information to users, and assisting patients as well as caregivers in understanding health conditions and medical interventions (Tractenberg et al., 2019). Furthermore, Technology and Information Literacy Competencies involve demonstrating excellent decision-making skills given complex situations, assisting in the design of clinical information systems, and using technology systems that assist in the evaluation of nursing care (Tractenberg et al., 2019). The purpose of technology and information literacy competencies is to enable NPs to employ available technology to improve patient safety and treatment outcomes.

Ethic competencies equip NPs with information on the ethical implications of scientific advances and how to make decisions regarding ethical dilemmas. Ethical competencies, therefore, include the use of ethics in decision-making, the analysis of the ethical implications of decisions, and comprehension of the ethical intricacies in healthcare delivery (Tractenberg et al., 2019). The purpose of APN is to allow nurses to act in an autonomous capacity. Independent practice competencies, therefore, ensure that NPs can operate as licensed independent practitioners. Some of the competencies involved include efficient operation as an independent practitioner, effective operation with high levels of accountability, provide patient-centered care and offer culturally competent care (Tractenberg et al., 2019). Independent practice competencies, allow NPs to practice independently of other healthcare practitioners.

Leadership Skills

Leadership is vital in any practice to facilitate the management of subordinates and promote positive change. Various skills facilitate leadership as NP in complex systems. Among the latter is emotional intelligence (EI) (Fitzpatrick & Gripshover, 2016). Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to monitor, understand and use emotions in positive ways. The advantages of EI can assist in alleviating stress, develop empathy, overcome challenges and resolve conflict (Khalili, 2017). In the clinical setting, EI allows NP leaders to help their peers cope with the stressors involved in healthcare provision.

Additionally, the leaders are required to assist novel practitioners to think through situations and adopt the best solutions to new problems. They must, therefore, possess critical thinking skills. Another vital skill for leaders is communication skills. The healthcare environment is a multidisciplinary one that involves a significant degree of collaboration. Communication skills are vital for any practitioner in a leadership role. Overall, an NP needs to possess critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and impeccable communication skills to discharge their duties effectively.

To improve my leadership skills, I will use a mentor. Mentorship works both ways as people learn by being taught by a mentor and by teaching or mentoring others. Mentorship entails seeking out nurses and other healthcare practitioners of advanced skills, competencies, or integrity and working under their guidance to comprehend the tactics they use to collaborate with peers and patients. The information gained can then be practiced and used to mentor other nurses. Pursuing lifelong learning is an effective approach to improve leadership skills. Taking leadership and personal development classes can significantly improve an NP’s self-awareness and ability to learn.

Additionally, remaining updated on current research and technological development through perpetual learning ensures that a leader has enough knowledge on the field to improve current practice and increase the quality of care provided. By serving both as a mentee and a mentor, I can adequately improve and practice my leadership skills, whereas embracing continual learning will ensure that I am adequately up to date with the present happenings within my field of practice.

Conclusion

This paper has highlighted the scope of practice for an NP in California, the core competencies involved, and the leadership skills pertinent to practicing in the profession. NPs are advanced practice nurses who have a higher level of autonomy than RNs. California, however, is a restrictive practice state. As such, NPs in the jurisdiction utilize standardized procedures to practice beyond the scope of typical RNs. Furthermore, NPs require leadership competencies to ensure that they can take up leadership positions in complex environments and promote positive change. Skills such as critical thinking skills and communication skills are, therefore, important to the success of NPs who wish to become leaders within their workplaces. As a future anesthetist in California, this paper has helped me to identify the areas in which I should focus to excel in my work.

References

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• Steps to becoming an APN in California. (n.d.). GraduateursingEDU. https //www.graduatenursingedu.org/california/
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