The Role of Advanced Practice Nurses in Communities, Essay Example

Introduction

Advanced practice nurses provide greater access to improved treatments and health education in many communities; however, not all communities are privy to these benefits in the desired manner. Some smaller communities might be unable to access these opportunities because of limited resources, and therefore, must be addressed more closely in order to accomplish new objectives to assist people in their health-related needs. The Minnesota state report provides background information regarding the needs of residents, but other communities may lack the knowledge that is required to support these objectives on a larger scale.

Analysis

Advanced practice nurses are likely to obtain new opportunities to improve the lives of patients who otherwise would lack access to these services, and this is accomplished through a comprehensive approach to achieving positive outcomes for patients in need. Access to care is a challenging phenomenon that continues to limit the ability of some communities to obtain adequate care and treatment for a host of conditions; as a result, advanced practice nursing must be expanded in scope to support these areas more effectively (Fairman et.al, 2011). Okemos, Michigan has access to a number of important resources due to its proximity to the East Lansing area, but additional resources are required in order to achieve even greater outcomes for local residents who require continuous care and treatment for different health concerns.

Primary care as provided by advanced practice nurses is a critical component of many current practicum efforts, as these nurses are able to bridge the gap between lack of access to some services and alleviating the burden in communities where resources might be limited (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). Greater quality of care is dependent on these objectives and may demonstrate a significant impact on patient care outcomes across different population groups (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). Similarly, the expansion of Medicaid in some states is a critical factor in providing access to care for larger numbers of people; however, this also requires a larger workforce, including advanced practice nurses, to accommodate this workload in many ways (Ku et.al, 2011). It is important to identify the resources that are required to ensure that patient care is improved and lack of access is reduced, and this includes the continued expansion of advanced practice nurses in areas where the need is greatest (Ku et.al, 2011). These nurses fill a void that exists where healthcare services are limited, while also demonstrating a lack of focus on those groups who require the highest possible level of care on a continuous basis (Ku et.al, 2011). These factors support an expanded approach to advanced practice nursing that includes collaborative models and other strategies to ensure that patients receive the care that they deserve in a timely manner, particularly the most vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children (Edwards et.al, 2011).

Conclusion

Advanced practice nurses provide a much-needed stimulus to communities where access to healthcare services is limited or has a limited scope. These roles fill a critical void in communities where access to care is essential yet largely misunderstood. These findings suggest that advanced practice nurses provide a strong level of attention to areas such as primary care that serve as the first line of defense for patients who otherwise would not have access to these services. Therefore, communities such as Okemos, Michigan will significantly benefit from the work performed by advanced practice nurses and the knowledge that they provide to local residents. This will encourage a well-rounded approach to patient care and treatment that will support all population groups within the community, as well as a means of achieving greater quality of care on a larger scale.

References

Ku, L., Jones, K., Shin, P., Bruen, B., & Hayes, K. (2011). The states’ next challenge—securing primary care for expanded Medicaid populations. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(6), 493-495.

Fairman, J. A., Rowe, J. W., Hassmiller, S., & Shalala, D. E. (2011). Broadening the scope of nursing practice. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(3), 193-196.

Ku, L., Jones, K., Shin, P., Bruen, B., & Hayes, K. (2011). The states’ next challenge—securing primary care for expanded Medicaid populations. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(6), 493-495.

Naylor, M. D., & Kurtzman, E. T. (2010). The role of nurse practitioners in reinventing primary care. Health Affairs, 29(5), 893-899.