Caring for Dying Children, Coursework Example

I am writing to thank you for taking the time to meet with me on October 8, 2014 at Senator Durbin’s downtown office. After confirming my appointment via email, I shared my purpose for the meeting, which was to discuss the removal of collaborating physician from the Advance Practice Act. Your preparedness was welcome, as you notified me that you had consulted with a healthcare aide in advance of the meeting in regards to this issue, and I sincerely appreciate your knowledge and awareness of the matter in question. Most importantly, I initiated the meeting in order to request the support of Senator Durbin in the removal of collaborating physician from the Nurse Practice Act. During the meeting, I provided you with a copy of the Illinois Advanced Practice Act and a sample written collaborative agreement.

The meeting that we shared was very successful, and I sincerely appreciate your pleasant and cordial demeanor. Throughout the meeting, you took notes, asked questions, and inquired regarding matters of patient safety. You also informed me that she and Senator Durbin are in full support of removing collaborating physician from the Advanced Practice Act. Your question regarding the safety of this decision with respect to new graduates was critical to the success of this endeavor. Most importantly, three years of collaboration with a physician and a confirmation by the physician that the advanced practice nurse is able to successfully practice on an independent basis is of critical importance, and upon graduation, advanced practice nurses do not practice with physicians.

Your belief that nurse practitioners effective in working with patients in a sufficient timeframe is essential to the discussion of the Advance Practice Act. The information that was shared regarding your family was insightful and it provided a means of examining the amount of time that physicians spend with nurses. In many cases, this is ten minutes or less, which is insufficient to effectively understand the problems that the patient is currently experiencing.

In summary, I appreciate the time and information that you shared during our meeting. Please let me know if there is any further assistance I could provide to your or your staff to ensure that Senator Durbin remains supportive of this issue. I will also take further action and contact my state senator in order to share my thoughts regarding the issue.

Summary

Our meeting began with an introduction and a summary of my education and career background to date, including my role as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, along with my 11 years of experience as an NP and 24 years of experience as a professional nurse.

During the meeting, I summarized the different types of roles associated with advanced practice nursing, including the following:

• Certified Nurse Practitioner
• Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
• Certified Nurse Midwife

Some of the most critical responsibilities of nurse practitioners include the following:

• Take health histories from patients and complete physical examinations
• Prescribe and manage medications for patients
• Order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses
• Provide health teaching and counseling to patients
• Refer patients to other health professionals and specialists as needed

The role of the advanced practice nurse is critical because it provides a basis for examining the different aspects of care and treatment in a detailed fashion and not in a rushed manner that could lead to a level of discomfort within the patient population.

Advanced practice nurses continue to expand their roles and acquire new responsibilities to provide expert care and knowledge to patients in a variety of healthcare settings (AACN, 2014). These individuals also demonstrate a high level understanding of complex problems and circumstances that impact patient care, along with advancing the profession to new levels (Morgan, 2009). In recent years, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing established a new regulatory model to govern advanced practice nursing and to provide greater regulation and oversight regarding licensure in order to maximize the potential of the profession and its impact on nursing practice (AACN, 2014). The APN scope of practice is critical to the success of those who fill these roles; therefore, the practice environment must be well identified and supported by a breadth of knowledge and practical experience that supports the profession in a successful manner (NAANP, 2013).

Currently, in 19 states and the District of Columbia, advanced practice nurses are permitted to practice independently without the need for physician approvals. To support this knowledge, there is no type of danger that is associated with nurse practitioners. From a personal standpoint, I am highly trained and skilled in my profession and possess the ability to diagnose and treat illnesses as effectively as physicians. Although I do not receive the same level of pay as a physician, I am able to practice in the same manner as those in this role. Prior research also indicates that many nurse practitioners outscore their physician counterparts with respect to patient satisfaction. Unfortunately, there is a nationwide shortage of primary physicians and an increased number of insured patients under the framework of the Affordable Care Act. In states such as Idaho and Alaska, nurse practitioners possess significant autonomy, while in states such as Hawaii and Kansas, they must practice concurrently with physicians.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2014). Expanded roles for advanced practice      nurses. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/apn-roles

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2014). The new APRN regulatory model: Defining the future of advanced practice nursing. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.org/wd/certifications/content/newaprnregulatorymodel.pcms?menu=certification

Morgan, D. (2009). Caring for dying children: assessing the needs of pediatric palliative care Nurse. Pediatric Nursing, 35(2), 86-91.

National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (2013). Advanced practice registered Nurse: role, preparation, and scope of practice. Retrieved from http://www.nannp.org/uploads/files/APRN_Role_Preparation_position_statement_FINAL.pdf