NP And APN Roles Comparison
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Similarities Between NP and APN Roles
Advanced practice nurses are classified into four categories, including Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nurse-Midwives. All four categories of advanced practice nurse are required to attain a master’s degree as an educational requirement to practice in their specialty. They are also required to obtain continuing education for license renewal, and in some state, certification is required. Both NP and APN work in clinics, hospitals, doctor’s office or outpatient care centers. Both are licensed to diagnose diseases, treat illnesses and injuries. Every NP is an APN. Some ANP, such as clinical nurse specialist, can specialize as an NP with common areas being pediatric and adult-gerontology (American Nurses Associations, n.d).
Differences Between NP and APN Roles
NP provides a wide range of services such as primary care, acute and specialty care across the lifespan through patient assessment, making a diagnosis, and treating illnesses and injuries. Certified Nurse-Midwives, on the other hand, provide primary, reproductive and gynecological care. Clinical Nurse Specialist, unlike NP, is involved with the practice of other APN by providing expertise and support to other nurses and promotes the use of the evidence-based practice to improve outcomes. Unlike the NP, CRNA is only confined to specific areas of providing anesthetics and pain management care (American Nurses Associations, n.d).
Comparison Between NP and Physician Assistant
Both professionals take up some of the roles of doctors, such as diagnosing a patient and prescribing medication. They also compete for similar positions in practice. They both offer health care services that are more cost-effective compared to services by physicians. Despite these similarities, their roles differ significantly. PAs cannot operate their practice and must work under the direct supervision of a physician. NPs, on the other and, can work independently in states that allows full practice authority. PAs have a more general background, while NPs serves a specific population. NPs provides service at the bedside during hospitalization, while physicians have a surgical specialty. The role of PAs draws from a medical model, while NPs draws from a nursing tradition that focuses on a wellness approach and a person as a whole.
Growing Areas of Nursing Specialization in Nursing, and how It Will Continue Evolving in the Future
Growing areas of nursing specialization include nurse practitioner, nurse case management and nurse informaticist. The estimated growth of nurse practitioner is 36% by 2026 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Demand for a nurse case manager is also expected to grow significantly. With the increased adoption of health care technology, nursing informatics has also grown with an increase in demand and an increase in areas of specialization. The categories listed will continue growing in the future due to major changes expected to change. This includes increased demand for primary care and the increasing shortage of primary care providers, creating more demand for nurse practitioners. An increase in the aging population with an estimate 73% increase in older adult aged over 65 years is expected by 2029 (Haddad, et al., 2020). Older adults have a high demand for chronic care hence the growth in demand for case nurse managers and growth in nursing informatics due to increased demand for care delivery, for example, telehealth.
Roles of Nursing Advanced Practice in the Future
Current trends in healthcare indicate an expansion in the roles of advanced practice nurses. Current trends in healthcare indicate an increasing demand for primary care, increased utilization of health care technology, need for a diverse workforce due to diversity of the population, a drive towards more accessible care, need to reduce healthcare costs and quality care. Advanced nurses are more equipped with the competencies required to meet such needs. Currently, health policymakers are more concerned with utilizing advanced practice nurse and nurse practitioners (Woo, et al., 2017). The move by various states to grant full practice authority to NPs indicates the future growth of NPs and APN.
References
American Nurses Associations (n.d). Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. (APRN). Retrieved from
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/aprn/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2021). Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.
Haddad, L. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2020). Nursing shortage. StatPearls [Internet].
Woo, B. F. Y., Lee, J. X. Y., & San Tam, W. W. (2017). The Impact of the Advanced Practice Nursing Role on Quality of Care, Clinical Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Cost in the Emergency and Critical Care Settings: A Systematic Review. Human Resources for Health, 15(1), 1-22.
Question
Compare and contrast the primary care NP role with other nursing advanced practice roles and the role of physician assistants. What are the similarities among the roles and what are the differences? What are some growing areas of nursing specialization in nursing, and how do you see this continuing to evolve in the future? For example, informatics and disaster nursing are a growing area of nursing specialization that grow from specific needs in healthcare. What do you envision when you consider the roles of nursing advanced practice in the future?
FYI: Please answer all questions.
Please use 3 references within 5 years