NUR1299 Critical analysis of the role of nursing practitioner

MAIN BODY

Role of Nurse Practitioners in Caring for Patients With Complex Health Needs, 2020 [Online] Available through <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7552908/>

The above-mentioned article highlights the percentage of medical beneficiaries care for by nursing practitioners during 2012-2017. It is important for nursing practitioners to extend their capabilities in order to meet the increasing needs of patients in healthcare settings. The article showcases that around 68% of nursing practitioners offer care for complex patients. The ability to take care of patients with complex needs can be acquired through effective clinical training. Nurse practitioners are employed in each and every healthcare sector and perform tasks such as initiating and managing treatment, coordination of care, interpretation of diagnostic reports and educating patients and their families about health related issues. Nurses possess patient centred nature, because of which they are responsible for interpreting the needs of society and advances in healthcare sector (Uveges & Dwyer, 2022). Nurse practitioners counsel patients about medical procedures that need to be performed related to outpatient clinic, conducting physicals etc. Nurses are a part of multidisciplinary team, collaborating with all the members of healthcare teams for delivery of excellent quality of care to the patients. A day in lives of nursing professionals involves assessment of patient population along with their levels of sickness. NPs are committed to providing evidence based high quality care to patients at every possible interaction to foster a good relationship with them. The development of good rapport will lead to an increase in recovery rate and decreased hospital visits.

Nurse Practitioners as Primary Care Providers with their Own Patient Panels and Organizational Structures: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2022 [Online] Available through <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6342506/>

The growing demand for primary care is an indicator for implementation of measures for increasing primary care capacity (Alotaibi, Higgins, Day & Chan, 2018). Healthcare settings employ the care imparted by nursing practitioners to ensure delivery of continuous care to patient panels. The information collected from this article showcased a study obtained from 163 primary care organisations. The role of nurse practitioners in delivery of care and work environment was measured. The results obtained from the study portrayed that about 45% of nurses served primary care to their own patients. This evidence based review demonstrated that Nurse practitioners are highly capable for delivering excellent quality of care which can further enhance positive patient outcomes. Lack of presence of Nurse practitioners leads to major delays in patient treatments and an increased cost of care. The main role of Nurse practitioners is to be perform physical examinations of patients for the evaluation of their health and diagnosis of illnesses. Performing diagnostic tests such as X-rays and lab tests is the duty of a nursing professional. Nurses, fore their assigned patients develop and initiate an appropriate treatment plan for prescribing and dispensing of medications (Luther & et. al., 2019). Patient health assessment are performed by nurses along with identification of changes observed in patient's health. They modify treatment plans as per requirements of patients. Acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are diagnosed and treated accordingly. A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse that are trained to assess the needs of the patients with context to their health. Trained nurse practitioners are involved in basic disease prevention, coordination of care and promotion of health. Low risk levels were observed in patients who were delivered with coordinated care with the help of a nurse practitioner. Nurses are widely known to practice adaptability during several aspects of care. The role of nurses include actively maintaining knowledge about research related to current medicine.

The effectiveness of the role of advanced nurse practitioners compared to physician-led or usual care: A systematic review, 2021 [Online] Available through <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X21000163 >  

Through this article, the author specifies that randomized control trails were conducted for confirming that nurse led care has the potential to improve the overall care in patients suffering from chronic and acute medical conditions (Haugstvedt & et. al., 2021). There were positive outcomes reported such as greater levels of patient satisfaction, enhanced health advice and an excellent management of self management for chronic diseases. This particular article evaluated the effectiveness of role of advanced nurse practitioners in comparison to normal delivery of care in a healthcare setting. The optimisation in health of patients suffering from chronic conditions is led primarily by nurses on a global level. This article concluded that evidence of this review supported the link of advanced nurse practitioners to increased patient satisfaction, control and management of chronic disease and decreased hospital revisits. Due to satisfy the increasing demands of growing population on a global level, it is important for frontline health professionals to address these issues related to generation and maintenance of patient care. NPs are important in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare systems for waste reduction and enhanced cost effectiveness. This will help in attaining savings targets of put forward by governmental organisations (Goh & et. al., 2020). There are about 70% of advanced nurse practitioners currently employed in all health care system on a global level. The method used for conduction of evidence based research for this article was primary study research.

Advanced practice nurses globally: Responding to health challenges, improving outcomes, 2022 [Online] Available through <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9040455/ >

The above given article highlights the skills of advanced nursing practitioners and evidence based on achievement of good health outcomes through delivery of excellent quality of care. The association of advanced nurse practitioners is directly linked to positive patient outcomes through various range of specialisations in nurses during practice. The critical skills of advanced nurse practitioners includes executive leadership and problem-solving attitude. It is important for nurses to produce positive patient outcomes and improve their overall practice of nursing through effective communication by collaborating with patients and fellow health professionals. The four pillars of advanced nursing practice includes clinical practice, leadership and management, research and education (Hurley & et. al., 2020). Nurse practitioners, at all times, should display attentiveness during monitoring the condition of patient to ensure that the needs of the patient are met in every possible way. Some examples of roles performed by nursing practitioner are proper traige assessment, CPR proficiency, administration of injections and distribution health related education to patients. The combination of clinical practices along with managerial skills are some integral skills for advanced nurse practitioners to possess. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) employ the use of evidence based practices along with their clinical knowledge for execution of complex decision making for enhancing clinical competencies. Advanced practice nurses have the potential to provide effective and high quality care to patients which helps in fostering of positive environment inside health care settings (Kerr & et. al., 2020).

An exploration of the levels of clinical autonomy of advanced nurse practitioners: A narrative literature review, 2021 [Online] Available through <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ijn.12978 >

The aim of this article includes benefits and challenges faced by a community during the introduction of an advanced nurse practitioner in primary care in rural areas. The article includes use of data collection through surveys and interviews for the analysis of data. The challenges faced by healthcare professionals includes shortage of nursing staff along with ageing of nursing workforce. The increase in patient acuity and technology is a prime challenge faced by advanced nurse practices in several areas of independent practice. One of the cornerstones of advanced nursing practice is clinical autonomy. However, the synthesis of clinical autonomy in literature is limited and restricted. This article employed a systematic approach for the analysis of study conducted (Chuang & et. al., 2018). Advanced nursing practitioner might hamper their ability to practice clinically autonomy due to lack of information and knowledge from other health care professionals. The lack of communication might also threaten the possibility of effective transfer and delivery of information. It is important to ensure clarity in practice to avoid undermining of care delivered to patients with acute and chronic conditions. In order to enhance healthcare provisions, nurse practitioner must collaborate with other healthcare professionals for advancement of clinical responsibilities, lacking in recent times. It was also observed that many practitioners lack self-determination and quality initiatives, therefore, it is important for them to set their practices in motion with appropriate motivation and self-determination skills. These skills can be acquired through practice and help from colleagues. There is a potential shortage of advanced nurses that are assigned to aged patients due to lack of appropriate skills and lack of experience in their clinical practice (McDonald & et. al., 2018). Some other challenges faced by advanced nurses include long shifts,changing schedules and emotional involvement with patients. Potential exposure to illness and chemicals puts the health of nurses at a risk. Poor treatments from patients acts as a barrier to advanced nurses to deliver good quality of care.

The development of professional practice standards for Australian general practice nurses, 2017 [Online] Available through <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28181277/ >

This articles explores the increase in number of nurses employed in Australian general practice to fulfil the growing demand in primary care settings (Carryer & et. al., 2018). The Australian general standards aid in articulation of roles and responsibilities during nursing practice for patients and other health professionals. These standards are laid out as a guide for curriculum development in nurses and measurement of performances exhibited by nurses. The nursing and midwifery Board of Australia is a guide or standard practice that publishes a wide range of codes and guidelines for navigating the course of practices in nurses during their clinical placements in healthcare institutions and patient wards. These guidelines support the overall working of nurses in the health field. These registration standards are useful in defining the requirements that nursing applicants and registrants need to meet for registering as a certified nursing practitioner. These guidelines strengthen the workplace practices in order to enhance the delivery of evidence base primary care (Wilkinson, Carryer & Budge, 2018). The main purpose of these standards is to communicate about the scope of nursing practices and act as a tool for competence in an individual. Delivery of primary care is a complex process, including management of complex diseases. This is why achieving these standards in general nursing practice is crucial for all registered nurses.  Fostering of good relationships between doctors and patients along with identification of patient needs can be assessed through a review of an nurse's performance. The implementation of collaborative practice plays a pivotal role in primary health care team.

For more refrences read Sample Reflective Journal Assignment

Domains of practice and Advanced Practice Nursing in Australia, 2013 [Online] Available through <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236926322_Domains_of_practice_and_Advanced_Practice_Nursing_in_Australia>

The above-mentioned article highlights the domains of nursing practices in healthcare settings. Through this article, the author throws light on the set of standards and expectations that are constituted in each domain of standard nursing practice (Lin & et. al., 2019). The professional and ethical development in nurses is driven by guidelines laid forward by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Australian Health Care Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The four main domains of nursing practices are professional practice, communication and collaboration, patient care and nursing knowledge and practice. These domains make up the entire healthcare field. Patient centred care focuses on the overall well-being of patients. These domains ensure that nurses ensure nursing competency as one of their core abilities to be able to fulfil their roles and responsibilities as frontline of healthcare. The main aim of development of these domains is to ensure that nurses specialize in patient education, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and and developing a good relationship with patients for enhancing the overall health of the patient (Cashin & et. al., 2022). Domains act as an important aspect in healthcare system that aim at taking care of patients for advocating their rights, promotion of health and preventing the development of chronic and acute illnesses.

CONCLUSION

From the above critical analysis it can be concluded that nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system and are employed in providing acute and primary care to the patients. The services provided by nurses include assessment, diagnosis and treatment of illness along with distribution of health education to patients and their families. Understanding the health needs of patients is categorized under acute and primary care, where nurses offer emotional support to the patient, their families and related communities. Development of patient care plans in context to their chronic illness is an important aspect of role imparted by nursing practitioners. The above-mentioned literature reviews defined the different roles and responsibilities that nurses have to perform both, independently and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Nurses, as healthcare professionals, are more approachable as they are in direct contact with patients and their families. This suggests they they are the first ones to take notice of patient's condition. Nursing practitioner, in non-emergency situations, act as advocates for protecting the rights of patients, which is an important role to play on the front lines of patient care. Side effects in patients are also monitored and reviewed along with implementation of treatment measures for better clinical outcomes in patients. The primary role of nurses is to advocate for the rights of patients through the management of their physical or mentally needs that aid in development of an effective treatment plan.

Read Also: Emotional intelligence in Nursing

REFERENCES

• Alotaibi, K., Higgins, I., Day, J., & Chan, S. (2018). Paediatric pain management: knowledge, attitudes, barriers and facilitators among nurses–integrative review. International Nursing Review, 65(4), 524-533.
• Carryer, J., Wilkinson, J., Towers, A., & Gardner, G. (2018). Delineating advanced practice nursing in New Zealand: a national survey. International Nursing Review, 65(1), 24-32.
• Cashin, A., Pracilio, A., Buckley, T., Kersten, M., Trollor, J., Morphet, J., ... & Wilson, N. J. (2022). A survey of Registered Nurses’ educational experiences and self-perceived capability to care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 47(3), 227-239.
• Chuang, Y. H., Lai, F. C., Chang, C. C., & Wan, H. T. (2018). Effects of a skill demonstration video delivered by smartphone on facilitating nursing students' skill competencies and self-confidence: A randomized controlled trial study. Nurse education today, 66, 63-68.
• Goh, P. Q. L., Ser, T. F., Cooper, S., Cheng, L. J., & Liaw, S. Y. (2020). Nursing teamwork in general ward settings: A mixed‐methods exploratory study among enrolled and registered nurses. Journal of clinical nursing, 29(19-20), 3802-3811.
• Haugstvedt, A., Hernar, I., Graue, M., Strandberg, R. B., Stangeland Lie, S., Sigurdardottir, A. K., ... & Kolltveit, B. C. (2021). Nurses’ and physicians’ experiences with diabetes consultations and the use of dialogue tools in the DiaPROM pilot trial: A qualitative study. Diabetic Medicine, 38(6), e14419.
• Hurley, J., Hutchinson, M., Kozlowski, D., Gadd, M., & van Vorst, S. (2020). Emotional intelligence as a mechanism to build resilience and non‐technical skills in undergraduate nurses undertaking clinical placement. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(1), 47-55.
• Kandemir, D., Yılmaz, A., & Sönmez, B. (2022). Professional and psychological perceptions of emergency nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 19(3), e12470.
• Kerr, D., Milnes, S., Ammentorp, J., McKie, C., Dunning, T., Ostaszkiewicz, J., ... & Martin, P. (2020). Challenges for nurses when communicating with people who have life‐limiting illness and their families: A focus group study. Journal of clinical nursing, 29(3-4), 416-428.
• Lin, F., Gillespie, B. M., Chaboyer, W., Li, Y., Whitelock, K., Morley, N., ... & Marshall, A. P. (2019). Preventing surgical site infections: Facilitators and barriers to nurses’ adherence to clinical practice guidelines—A qualitative study. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(9-10), 1643-1652.

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