The role of an advanced practice nurse is to provide specialized patient care. The advanced practice nurse is responsible for assessing patient needs, developing treatment plans, managing patient care and providing education and support.
As a result, the role of the advanced practice nurse can be greatly influenced by social, cultural, political and economic factors.
In today’s increasingly complex and interconnected world, advanced practice nurses (APNs) must be aware of and responsive to various social, cultural, political and economic factors that influence their role. Such factors can shape the way APNs provide care and the services they provide.
What does an advanced practice nurse do?
Advanced practice nurses are healthcare professionals with advanced training in nursing and medicine. These nurses typically have an education, license and advanced certification in a specific field of healthcare, such as neonatal care or geriatric medicine.
They are qualified to diagnose, treat and manage patient symptoms and provide follow-up care for patients with chronic illnesses or life-threatening conditions. doithuong
Advanced practice nurses often perform more procedures than registered nurses. Family practice nurse practitioners frequently provide primary care to patients and can prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests depending on the state they work in.
In some states, advanced practice nurses such as family practice nurse practitioners, are still required to work under the supervision of a physician.
These nurses are beginning to move out of the hospital setting and into community health centers due to the shortage of primary care physicians. Community health centers provide access to medical care for those who might not otherwise have it.
If you want to become an advanced practice nurse, Rockhurst University offers an online AGACNP program through Saint Luke’s™ College of Nursing and Health Sciences. This particular program prepares nurses to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in adult-gerontology acute care. Advanced practice nurses can specialize in a range of fields, such as midwifery, clinical care, family practice and anesthesiology.
Factors that can influence the role of an advanced practice nurse
Here we look at some of how social, cultural, political and economic factors can influence the role of an advanced practice nurse:
Patient education
The advanced practice nurse’s role as an educator is critical in providing quality healthcare. They must be knowledgeable about the latest medical information and communicate it to their patients in a manner they can understand.
These professionals must also be able to teach patients how to care for themselves and prevent disease. One-on-one teaching in the patient’s home is the most effective way of changing behavior.
Often, however, a patient who has experienced a severe illness may have stressors that affect their ability to learn and retain information.
The nurse can make all the difference in improving a patient’s health outcomes by providing information, support, empathy and comfort. Without these qualities and traits, it can be difficult for patients to understand complex medical conditions or cope with their illnesses.
Quality of care
The advanced practice nurse is responsible for ensuring their patients receive the highest quality of care. This includes evaluating the patient’s condition, finding the best treatment options and advocating for their patients.
Advanced practice nurses must put the needs of their patients first. They have complete authority to admit or discharge a patient at any time.
Nurses may go from station to station, checking on their patients and ensuring they have everything they need. They may need to restock necessary supplies and medications, ensure that the patients’ charts are appropriately documented and up to date and read through their patient’s medical histories.
Depending on their specialization, these professionals may also be responsible for preparing operating rooms before procedures begin, establishing intravenous lines and suction catheters, changing bandages and setting up equipment for x-rays or ultrasounds.
Leadership
The advanced practice nurse is responsible for leading their team and ensuring everyone works together to provide the best care possible. They must be able to motivate their team and foster collaboration.
Leaders set the tone for the organization and create an environment of collaboration, respect and innovation which can directly influence the work of an advanced practice nurse.
They can guide and support advanced practice nurses, helping them develop their skills and knowledge and providing them with the resources, tools and autonomy needed to practice independently.
Leaders can also create an environment that values the expertise of advanced practice nurses, recognizing their contributions and providing meaningful opportunities for them to lead new initiatives and projects.
With strong leadership, advanced practice nurses can access more opportunities to demonstrate their expertise, increase their visibility and contribute to the success of their organization.
Patient advocacy
Advocacy is essential for advanced practice nurses to practice in their role in the healthcare system. The nurse must be an advocate for their patient’s rights and interests.
They must be able to communicate with other healthcare professionals and be willing to stand up for what is best for the patient.
Through advocacy, advanced practice nurses can work to ensure that their practice is a valuable resource and that they have the authority and autonomy to provide quality care to their patients.
Additionally, advocacy can promote evidence-based practice and help ensure that advanced practice nurses are included in policy-making and decision-making processes.
By actively advocating for their role, advanced practice nurses can help shape the system to better meet the needs of their patients and improve the overall healthcare system.
Research
Research is essential to advancing healthcare, and the nurse must be knowledgeable about the latest evidence-based practices. They must be able to evaluate research and determine if it applies to the patients under their care.
Research can also help to identify new roles and responsibilities for advanced practice nurses, such as managing chronic diseases or providing preventive care. It can also help identify gaps in advanced practice nurse education and training and inform education and training programs.
Ultimately, research can provide a better understanding of the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and help them better meet the needs of their patients.
Professionalism
Nurses are required to always practice with professionalism and integrity. They must adhere to the highest ethical standards and maintain a level of respect for their patients and colleagues.
Professionalism helps set the foundation for a successful and rewarding career as an advanced practice nurse, demonstrating a commitment to the profession, ethical standards and patient-centered care.
It also helps to promote collaboration and trust between advanced practice nurses and other healthcare professionals. Professionalism can help advanced practice nurses to develop leadership skills, which are essential for successful patient advocacy.
By demonstrating professionalism, advanced practice nurses can earn the respect of colleagues, patients and the larger healthcare community.
Communication
Nurses must have excellent communication skills to collaborate with other healthcare professionals and provide clear information to their patients. Communication between the advanced practice nurse and other healthcare professionals helps identify potential problems and improve collaboration.
For example, the advanced practice nurse can ensure that all team members know the patient’s health history and current condition, which can be beneficial when developing a care plan.
Communication is also essential for the advanced practice nurse to build trust and establish effective relationships with patients. This outcome is possible by listening to the patient’s concerns, providing accurate information and answering questions. Cultural factors can affect how this communication takes place. In some instances, an interpreter may be required to ensure that both parties fully understand one another.
Good communication skills can help the advanced practice nurse explain complex medical information clearly and quickly, improving patient compliance and outcomes.
Innovation
The nurse must be able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. They must be open to new ideas and willing to take calculated risks to provide better care.
Innovation is a powerful tool that can help advanced practice nurses carry out their roles more effectively. It can help advanced practice nurses develop new approaches to patient care, improve patient outcomes and enhance their practice.
Innovation is also used to identify new ways of delivering care, creating more efficient processes and protocols and developing technology-driven solutions.
Additionally, innovation can help nurses stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. This is possible by providing the tools and resources to stay current on the latest trends and advancements in their field.
Interdisciplinary care
Nurses need to regularly collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care. They must be knowledgeable about the different disciplines in healthcare and be able to work with others to provide the best care possible.
The advanced practice nurse can play a crucial role in interdisciplinary care by acting as a leader, coordinator and advocate for the patient.
APNs can use their advanced clinical knowledge, skills and experience to facilitate the collective efforts of the interdisciplinary team and ensure the patient receives the best possible care.
Additionally, the APN should make the effort to understand the patient’s overall physical and emotional needs. This will help to create an individualized plan of care that incorporates the expertise of all involved healthcare professionals. A variety of social, cultural, political and economic factors can come into play when developing care plans that address the individual patient’s preferences.
Technology
Nurses are required to stay up to date on the latest technology and be able to use it to improve the quality of care. Technology has significantly impacted the role of an advanced practice nurse.
It can allow APNs to access and analyze patient data quickly and easily. For instance, APNs increasingly utilize technology, such as electronic health records (EHR) and telehealth services, to improve patient care and outcomes.
With EHRs, APNs can promptly access patient information, such as lab results and medical history, from multiple sources. This allows them to make more accurate diagnoses and provide better care.
Technology has also enabled APNs to provide telehealth services to their patients, such as virtual visits and remote monitoring. This allows APNs to provide care to patients who may not be able to physically visit the office, such as those who are elderly or disabled or those living in rural areas.
Time management
A nurse must manage their time effectively to provide quality care. Advanced practice nurses provide high-quality patient care while managing multiple tasks, such as assessing and diagnosing patients, managing patient records and developing care plans.
Time management is essential to provide the best patient care and ensure that the necessary tasks are promptly completed. Time management can help advanced practice nurses prioritize tasks, stay organized and maximize their time.
By prioritizing tasks and managing their time effectively, the advanced practice nurse can ensure they provide the best care possible while staying on top of all their duties.
In addition, time management also helps the advanced practice nurse stay within the allotted budget. It can help the organization save money and contribute to its overall success.
Professional development
Continual professional development is a requirement for all nurses. It can increase their knowledge, expand skills and foster growth and improvement in clinical practice, research and leadership.
Through professional development, an advanced practice nurse can become more knowledgeable about current healthcare trends and evidence-based practices for patient care, which can help to improve patient outcomes.
Professional development can also enable advanced practice nurses to increase their leadership capabilities, allowing them to take on a more active role in healthcare organizations.
It is essential for keeping advanced practice nurses up to date on the latest research and technological advances in their specialty area, allowing them to provide the best possible care for their patients.
Interpersonal skills
Nurses need to have excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals and their patients.
Communicating effectively and connecting with patients, colleagues and other healthcare providers is essential to providing quality care. Interpersonal skills can also help build trust and foster relationships with patients, leading to better patient satisfaction and improved outcomes.
Strong interpersonal skills can also help advanced practice nurses better understand their patient’s needs and create an environment that encourages open communication and collaboration.
Advanced practice nurses can use their interpersonal skills to advocate for their patients and ensure they receive the care they need. Interpersonal skills can also help advanced practice nurses lead and manage teams of healthcare professionals, ensuring that everyone works together towards a common goal.
Stress management
Managing stress effectively is a key part of being a nurse. This includes taking care of themselves and knowing when to take a break.
Stress can negatively affect an advanced practice nurse’s communication, decision-making abilities and emotional state. It can also lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction.
By managing their stress, advanced practice nurses can more effectively manage their workload, have more energy and focus on dedicating themselves to patient care.
Stress management can help advanced practice nurses become more organized and plan their work more effectively. Nurses should take the time to prioritize tasks, create a schedule and break tasks down into smaller, manageable chunks.
By doing so, the nurse can ensure that patient care is not compromised due to stress-related distractions. In addition, stress management can help nurses become more creative and innovative in their approach to patient care.
By thinking more clearly, the advanced practice nurse can find creative solutions to problems and develop more effective patient care plans.
Compassion
Nurses must be compassionate and empathetic towards their patients. They must have the ability to understand their patient’s needs and make them feel comfortable.
Compassion is an essential component of any nursing role. As an APN, it is imperative to be compassionate and show empathy when dealing with patients. Compassionate care can powerfully impact the patient-provider relationship, as it helps build trust and connection.
Compassion can also help reduce patients’ stress and anxiety, improving their health and wellbeing. In addition, compassionate care can help create a safe and supportive environment that encourages patient participation in their care.
By being compassionate and understanding of a patient’s needs and feelings, an APN can help reduce the stigma and misunderstanding often accompanying healthcare.
Compassion can also help to create a better work environment for APNs, as they are more likely to be better supported by their colleagues and feel more fulfilled in their role.
Community involvement
Active participation in the community can help advanced practice nurses to promote health and wellness. This includes advocating for public health policies and participating in community activities.
By engaging in activities that benefit the community, nurses can demonstrate their commitment to their profession, build relationships with patients and develop a positive reputation.
By participating in community health fairs, advanced practice nurses can demonstrate their knowledge and skills in providing health care services to community members.
Nurses can create relationships and foster trust between their patients and the healthcare community. Doing so helps to develop a sense of understanding and respect for the profession.
Advanced practice nurses can help educate community members about health-related topics. By providing educational seminars, nurses can help create awareness about important health topics and dispel misconceptions about the profession.
Final thoughts
The role of an advanced practice nurse is highly impacted by social, cultural, political and economic factors. As an advanced practice nurse, staying abreast of the current social, cultural, political and economic factors is essential to provide the best care for their patients.
Advanced practice nurses need to understand the values and beliefs of their patients, as well as the legal and political implications of their practice. By doing so, they can provide tailored and effective care that meets the needs of their patients and the community.
Advanced practice nurses must also be aware of the economic factors affecting their practice, such as healthcare costs, reimbursement and access to care. By understanding these factors, they can provide patients with the most effective and efficient care while cost-effectively managing their practice.