Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Reflection Paper
Nursing students are the next generation of nurses who will be placed in the frontline of health care. Some of the nursing students are already caring for patients and working in medical facilities. In fact, nursing students are needed more than ever as they transition into nurse practitioners to meet the nurse staffing gap caused by the acute shortage of personnel. Nursing students are the future of nursing. The current education program is offered at the undergraduate level, presenting registered nurses who join forces with other providers in delivering appropriate health care. Nursing students are aware of this, and are filled with eagerness, excitement to finish the undergraduate nursing program, obtain their professional practice licenses and secure jobs so that they can be part of the nurses who are making a difference. They have the ability to make a difference now, making a positive impact with their experiences and knowledge after successfully completing the undergraduate nursing program (Finkelman, 2019). This paper explores the need for lifelong learning and achieving higher levels of education among nurses who have completed the undergraduate degree program. Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
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Job market options
An undergraduate nursing degree presents many job opportunities that value the qualities of personal skills and professionalism. Some of the jobs open to undergraduate nurses include physician associate, paramedic, midwife, mental health nurse, learning disability nurse, high intensity therapist, health visitor, health play specialist, pediatric nurse, and adult nurse. Other jobs in which the undergraduate nursing qualifications would be useful include social worker, police officer, play therapist, health service manager, genetic counselor, and counsellor. With the basic undergraduate degree, there are many options in the job market (DeNisco, 2021).
Goals for professional education
Still, nurses who have been through the nursing education undergraduate program may have a challenge in getting some of these job options as many of them require some work experience. Towards this end, the first step is getting some related work experience in a clinical environment. The work experience would give graduates from the program the opportunity to make important contact even as they increase their knowledge of the industry. Internship and volunteering can help in this regard through improving key skills that employers look for. They should be prepared to find work as health care assistants or care workers in hospital or any other work experience that involves caring for others. In addition, they should prepare for the job options through emphasizing their capabilities. This is presented in the resume that highlights the range of technical and professional skills to include the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and to support and advise patients and their families. Besides that, the resume would reflect the ability to assess, analyze, monitor and evaluate the care delivered. In general terms, the undergraduate program enables nurse graduates to gain skills and personal qualities sought by employers to include problem solving and decision making skills, ability to conduct research, determination and tenacity, leadership, organization and time management, empathy, adaptability, and flexibility (Joel, 2018). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Increase in level of education and effect on competitiveness in job market and in role in the future
Even as nursing students complete the undergraduate program and contemplate entering the job market, they need to have plans to pursue advanced degrees and professional certifications as part of short-term and long-term goals. They should consider advanced education in subjects such as advanced clinical practice as well as various other specialist subjects even as they train to become advanced nurse practitioners. Besides that, they can pursue post-registration courses, some of which will be offered by employers as part of education and practice requirements. In fact, some of the training may even be offered through study days. There is a need to understand that health care is constantly developing, and, as practicing nurses, the graduates need to keep up with the changes (such as changing needs of populations, current issues and technology) through ongoing education (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).
Nurse practitioners with undergraduate degrees should be intent on pursuing a Master’s degree in nursing as this would provide them with more specialized skills and training thereby equipping them to work in a variety of areas in the nursing field. The advanced degree presents a career advancement opportunity as it presents theoretical and practical learning that develops skills to help with specializing in specific areas of nursing. In essence, the advanced degree provides benefits to include better compensation, advanced career opportunities, specialization opportunities, increased long-term earning potential, scholarship opportunities, leadership opportunities, teaching opportunities, personal satisfaction and achievement, professional development, career stabilities, competitive advantage, intellectual opportunities, greater influence, and improving patient outcomes (Chinn & Kramer, 2018). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Relationship of continuing education
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines standards for registered nurses, describing the competencies that nurse practitioners should perform. The organization acknowledges that the roles of nurses are evolving with the changing health care landscape, thereby creating the need for the standards to be periodically reviewed and revised. It notes that nursing professional development focuses on ongoing learning, change and role competence and growth with the intention of improving the capacity to provide appropriate care. Based on the standards presented by ANA, pursuing ongoing education is the right direction as it facilitates learning, change and professional role competencies and growth, which contribute to optimal care and population health (American Nurses Association, 2021).
Mandatory continuing education nursing
Interest in pursuing continuing education throughout a nurse’s career stems from the understanding that nurses are learners. The primary goal of a nurse is in providing appropriate and safe care. This requires not only an update in the latest nursing science, but also in seeking out and integrating the understanding of the latest science into everyday nursing practice. Nurses are by nature inquisitive and driven to provide the best care to their patients, and acting as a trusted resources for other stakeholders. Being a trusted resource to other stakeholders in their times of need when they are not feeling their best, in unfamiliar settings or in compromised situations means that nurses need a combination of skills. The initial basic education (such as undergraduate degree) simply provides foundational knowledge. Continuing education goes on to provide more knowledge as it allows nurses to constantly learn and refine practice while gaining experience (Cherry & Jacob, 2019). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Continuing education remains important to nursing science and practice. It ensures that patients receive high-quality and evidence based care, as it enables nurses to stay abreast of evolving practical and scientific knowledge gains and update practice accordingly. In addition, continuing education helps nurses improve their clinical competence and supports them in their care management and coordination roles through optimizing the combination of attitudes, abilities, skills and knowledge that underpin professional nursing practice (Murray, 2022). In this respect, there is a need to make continuing education mandatory for nurses.
Conclusion
One must accept that nursing students in the undergraduate program are the next generation of nurses with some of them already providing care to patients. In addition, one must acknowledge that they have job opportunities available to them to include physician associate, paramedic, midwife, mental health nurse, learning disability nurse, high intensity therapist, health visitor, health play specialist, pediatric nurse, adult nurse, and so on. Besides that, their goals for professional education should be on gaining related work experience in a clinical environment, having key skills for the job opportunity, and having an updated resume that highlights the range of technical and professional skills, as these goals could preclude them from the job opportunities. Additionally, they should be prepared for increasing the level of education as this helps with keeping up with changes in the care environment, and providing them with more specialized skills and training thereby equipping them to work in a variety of areas in the nursing field. ANA affirms this observation in noting that nursing professional development focuses on ongoing learning, change and role competence and growth with the intention of improving the capacity to provide appropriate care. Overall, nurses are professionals with a professional body of knowledge and continuing education ensures that nurses are equipped with sound understand of safe care and scope of practice to meet the obligations to nursing practice and patients. Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
References
American Nurses Association (2021). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. American Nurses Association.
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2019). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management (8th ed.). Elsevier, Inc.
Chinn, P. L., & Kramer, M. K. (2018). Knowledge Development in Nursing: Theory and Process (10th ed.). Elsevier, Inc.
DeNisco, S. M. (2021). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Finkelman, A. (2019). Professional Nursing Concepts: Competencies for Quality Leadership (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Joel, L. A. (2018). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essentials for Role Development (4th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
Murray, E. (2022). Nursing Leadership and Management for Patient Safety and Quality Care (2nd ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
Zaccagnini, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (Eds.) (2019). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials: A New Model for Advanced Practice Nursing (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Reflection Paper
Today I looked at my class and realized that the future of nursing is all around me. While my class may be just nursing students, but to other nurses and the community – we are the next generation of nurses who are being placed in the frontlines caring for patients. Some of us are already caring for patients and working in medical facilities. Still, I understand that our communities need health care professionals today more than ever. I am the future of nursing. I matter more than ever in the big picture and is greatly needed. As a registered nurse with undergraduate level of education, I will be expected to ‘step up to the plan’ and join forces in providing health care. I am filled with eagerness, excitement to finish the undergraduate nursing program, obtain my license and secure a job so that I can be part of the nurses who are making a difference. I have the ability to make a difference now, making a positive impact with my experience and knowledge after successfully completing the undergraduate nursing program (Finkelman, 2019). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
An undergraduate nursing degree presents many job opportunities that value that value the qualities of personal skills and professionalism. Some of the jobs open to undergraduate nurses include physician associate, paramedic, midwife, mental health nurse, learning disability nurse, high intensity therapist, health visitor, health play specialist, pediatric nurse, and adult nurse. Other jobs in which the undergraduate nursing qualifications would be useful include social worker, police officer, play therapist, health service manager, genetic counselor, and counsellor. With the basic undergraduate degree, there are many options in the job market (DeNisco, 2021).
Still, I acknowledge that it may be a challenge to get many of these job options as many of them require some work experience. Towards this end, the first step is getting some related work experience in a clinical environment. The work experience would give me the opportunity to make important contact even as I increase my knowledge of the industry. Internship and volunteering can help in this regard through improving key skills that employers look for. I am prepared to find work as a health care assistant or care worker in a hospital or any other work experience that involves caring for others. In addition, I have prepared for the job options through emphasizing my capabilities. This is presented in my resume that highlights my range of technical and professional skills to include the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and to support and advise patients and their families. Besides that, the resume reflects my ability to assess, analyze, monitor and evaluate the care I deliver. In general terms the undergraduate program has enabled me to gain skills and personal qualities sought by employers to include problem solving and decision making skills, ability to conduct research, determination and tenacity, leadership, organization and time management, empathy, adaptability, and flexibility (Joel, 2018). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Even as I complete the undergraduate program and contemplate entering, I have plans I have plans to pursue advanced degrees and professional certifications over the next four years. I am considering advanced education in subjects such as advanced clinical practice as well as various other specialist subjects even as I train to become an advanced nurse practitioner. Besides that, I can pursue post-registration courses, some of which will be offered by employers as part of education and practice requirements. In fact, some of the training may even be offered through study days. I understand that health care is constantly developing, and, as a practicing nurse, I need to keep up with the changes (such as changing needs of populations, current issues and technology) through ongoing education (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).
I am intent on pursuing a Masters degree in nursing within the next four years as this would provide me with more specialized skills and training, which would allow me to work in a variety of areas in the nursing field. The advanced degree presents a career advancement opportunity as it presents theoretical and practical learning that develops skills to help with specializing in specific areas of nursing. In essence, the advanced degree provides benefits to include better compensation, advanced career opportunities, specialization opportunities, increased long-term earning potential, scholarship opportunities, leadership opportunities, teaching opportunities, personal satisfaction and achievement, professional development, career stabilities, competitive advantage, intellectual opportunities, greater influence, and improving patient outcomes (Chinn & Kramer, 2018). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines standards for registered nurses, describing the competencies that nurse practitioners should perform. The organization acknowledges that the roles of nurses are evolving with the changing health care landscape, thereby creating the need for the standards to be periodically reviewed and revised. The organization notes that nursing professional development focuses on ongoing learning, change and role competence and growth with the intention of improving the capacity to provide appropriate care. Based on the standards presented by ANA, pursuing ongoing education is the right direction as it facilitates learning, change and professional role competencies and growth, which contribute to optimal care and population health (American Nurses Association, 2021).
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My interest in pursuing continuing education throughout my career as a nurse stems from the understanding that nurses are learners. As a nurse, the primary goal is in providing appropriate and safe care. This requires not only an update in the latest nursing science, but also in seeking out and integrating the understanding of the latest science into everyday nursing practice. As a nurse, I am inquisitive and driven to provide the best care to my patients, and I am a trusted resources for other stakeholders. Being a trusted resource to other stakeholders in their times of need when they are not feeling their best, in unfamiliar settings or in compromised situations means that nurses need a combination of skills. The initial basic education (such as undergraduate degree) simply provides foundational knowledge. Continuing education goes on to provide more as it allows nurses to constantly learn and refine practice while gaining experience (Cherry & Jacob, 2019). Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment
Continuing education remains important to nursing science and practice. It ensures that patients receive high-quality and evidence based care, as it enables nurses to stay abreast of evolving practical and scientific knowledge gains and update practice accordingly. In addition, continuing education helps nurses improve their clinical competence and supports them in their care management and coordination roles through optimizing the combination of attitudes, abilities, skills and knowledge that underpin professional nursing practice (Murray, 2022). Overall, nurses are professionals with a professional body of knowledge and continuing education ensures that nurses are equipped with sound understand of safe care and scope of practice to meet the obligations to nursing practice and patients. In this respect, there is a need to make continuing education mandatory for nurses Advanced Practice Nursing Essay Assignment