GCNNK1 Nursing Knowledge - Assignment Help on Role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Introduction

The health needs in society are increasing and reaching various levels of complexity that overwhelm the doctors. In this accord, nurses are extending and expanding their practice beyond their initial registration. Today, more nurses are involved in general practice, community health, as well as sexual and mental health at an advanced level (Middleton et al., 2016). This comes as the health care sector experience a need to enhance service delivery and improve health outcomes of its diverse client base (Hamric et al., 2013). Therefore, it becomes necessary for health care regulators and organizations to promote advance nursing practice through the development of competences and accreditations.

In the UK and other European countries, advance nursing practice is described as a level of practice rather than a job title or role. In this context, the advance nursing practice adds and builds on the competencies and skills common to all registered nurses (Birks, Davis, Smithson, & Cant, 2016). Despite being a level of practice or competence defined in the confines of personal experience, academic qualification, and accreditation, the advanced nursing practice provides opportunities and career pathways for professional development. The advanced nursing practice is important in ensuring public protection and patient safety. 

In Australia, the Advanced practice nursing’ (APN) is a term that defines a level of nursing practice that uses comprehensive skills, experience and knowledge in nursing care. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia establish that advanced practice nursing involves the application of advanced levels of knowledge, skills, and experience by a registered nurse to the nurse-patient/client relationship (Blair & Jansen (Eds.),  2015). In the Australian context, the definition and categorization of a nurse into the advanced practice nursing relies on individual's level of skills and experience in the nursing profession with an exceptional achievement of optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem-solving and accurate decision-making. While competencies, skills, and experience are critical in the categorisation as an APN, educational qualification is critical. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requires an APN practitioner to have a Master’s level of academic qualification in nursing on top of experience to work as an APN ether as a specialist or generalist capacity. The experience needed for a registered nurse to serve as an APN is three years of full-time practice or 5000 hours of advanced practice nursing (NMBA, 2013). The preparation to qualify for the APN position requires every registered nurse to working in situations of high clinical work complexity to have adequate clinical and educational competence through continuing professional development (CPD).

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia states that advanced nursing practice is a level of practice where nurses develop their professional knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement as well as professional skills and behaviour to a higher level of capability. Accordingly, this enables them to work in a high level of nursing where they incorporate professional leadership, education, and research to ensure effective and safe practice (Hamric et al., 2013). Although APN is a level of practice and not a role, APN nurses are responsible and accountable in managing clients with complex healthcare requirements. Enrolled nurse, registered nurse or nurse practitioner can attain the APN title since advance nursing practice is specific within the different contexts of practice.