Advanced Practice Nurse

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Direct care, the core skill of an advanced practice nurse (APN), empowers us with six characteristics: the use of holistic perspective, the formation of therapeutic partnerships with patients, expert clinical performance, the use of reflective practice, the use of evidence as a guide to practice, and the use of diverse approaches to health and illness (Tracy et al., 2019). In this paper, I will delve into three of these empowering qualities, along with two indirect care qualities, which will be explored later on. As an advanced practice nurse, forming therapeutic partnerships with patients is essential to providing high-quality and effective healthcare. To build a therapeutic partnership with patients, the APN will have to establish rapport, …show more content…

Advanced practice nurses are able to assess, diagnose, and manage complex health conditions, as well as provide education and counseling to patients and families. APNs can work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to their patients, especially when unlocking a hard case becomes questionable. As APNs practice more, complacency starts to creep in. It is crucial for APNs to recognize this thinking and take a step back to reassess the patients symptoms. Asking for different opinions on a case can only help the patient in the end. Indirect care for advanced practice nurses encompasses activities that contribute to and enrich patient care without involving direct interaction with patients. These actions include conducting research, analyzing data, devising care plans, coordinating services, providing education, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. By engaging in these collaborative indirect care activities, advanced practice nurses can enhance patient outcomes and advance the provision of top-notch healthcare …show more content…

According to Urbine et al. (2012), “a pharmacist can assist providers by augmenting their knowledge of medications, identifying potential drug toxicities and interactions, and recommending alternative medications when standard therapy is ineffective, contraindicated, difficult for the patient to adhere to, or unaffordable” (p. 232). Although an APN writes a prescription, the pharmacist will verify it, ultimately double-checking every detail for patient safety. Lastly, discharge planning is an essential component of any APN role in providing comprehensive care to patients. Discharge planning involves coordinating with the healthcare team, patients, and their families to ensure a smooth transition from the hospital to home or another care setting. Case management is a key factor in discharge planning. The APN puts the discharge orders in place, but case management follows through with every step along the way, including when the patient is in the hospital. While gathering vital information, case managers have responsibilities such as the following: inpatient coordination, appointment schedules, monitoring length of stay, discharge and transitioning plan of care, and social factors (Higgins et al.,

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