CONTINUING EDUCATION OF PRACTICING NURSES

Continuing Education Of Practicing Nurses

Continuing Education Of Practicing Nurses

I would like to explore the different fields of Advanced Nursing Practice. The four that I will address are the Nurse Anesthetist, the Clinical Nurse Specialist, the Nurse Practitioner and the Nurse Mid-wife. Advanced Practice Nurses are Registered Nurses with specialty training at the master's-degree level, in primary care settings, such as the Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives and acute care of inpatients, such as the Clinical Nurse Specialists and in operating rooms, such as Nurse Anesthetists. This has opened a door in the nursing field. Nurses' roles are no longer limited. Nurses now have opportunities to advance their career and expand their roles. Advanced Practice Nurses can be more directly involved in patient care decisions and be more independent from the physician. Advanced Practice Nurses are respected role models for Registered Nurses. What are Advanced Practice Nurses? As defined by the American Nurses' Association Congress of Nursing Practice: Nurses in advanced clinical nursing practice have a graduate degree in nursing. They conduct comprehensive health assessments and demonstrate a high level of autonomy and expert skill in the diagnosis and treatment of complex responses of individuals, families and communities to actual or potential health problems. They formulate clinical decisions to manage acute and chronic illness and promote wellness. Nurses in advanced clinical practice integrate education, research, management, leadership, and consultation into their clinical role. They function in collegial relationships with nursing peers, physicians, professionals, and others who influence the health environment. (Gabuat, J., Hilton, N., Linnaird, L.S., & Sherman, R.O. 2008). Roles in Nurse Midwifery and Nurse Anesthesia developed in the first half of the 20th century, while the Certified Nurse Specialist and the Nurse Practitioner roles developed in the second half of the century. There were many elements that created the demand for Advanced Practice Nurses. The large number of immigrants in the early 1900s created the need for Nurse Midwives. Another thing that influenced the growth of Nurse Midwives was when the government started to become aware of the poor maternal and child health in the US when it didn't have enough healthy males to serve in the armed forces in WWI. (Gabuat, J., Hilton, N., Linnaird, L.S., & Sherman, R.O. 2008).

Government and agency funding and support have financed the developed of new programs to educate and prepare nurses in the Advanced Practice roles. "There are now approximately 100,000 Advanced-Practice Nurses, half of them Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, and half Clinical Nurse Specialists. Although they are similar to the physician in making primary care decisions, Nurse Practitioners bring additional benefits to their practice. "Nurses are more likely to talk with patients and adapt medical regimens to a patient's preferences, family situation, and environment. They are also more likely to provide disease-prevention counseling, health education, and health-promotion activities, as well as to know about and use community resources, such as nutrition programs, self-help or group therapy, and parenting and stress-reduction programs" (Hix, ...