Description
Monica Sanchez
Week one Discussion
The four advanced practice registered nurse roles include Certified Nurse Practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and certified nurse midwife (The 4 Advanced Practice (APRN) Careers in Nursing, n.d.). The historical development of accredited nurse practitioners started in 1965 (Juda, 2014). Loretta Ford partnered with Henry Silver, MD, and created the first nurse practitioner program (Juda, 2014). The program at the University of Colorado focused on family health, disease prevention, and health promotion (Juda, 2014).
The role of an NP is to implement disease prevention, diagnose and treat chronic and acute issues, health management, and health maintenance (Nurse Practitioner (8212) – CalHR, n.d.). Certified Nurse Anesthetists prepare for anesthesia, implement assessments, provide preoperative teaching, administer anesthesia to patients, maintain anesthesia during an operation, and manage anesthesia recovery (Nurse et al.). The Certified Nurse Midwife confirms pregnancy, provides prenatal/postpartum care, monitors childbirth, manages complications, performs episiotomies, and delivers the newborn/placenta (Science, n.d.). Clinical Nurse Specialists assess patients, analyze patient data/outcomes, develop healthcare policies, collaborate with other healthcare members, and improve patient satisfaction (Clinical et al., 2016).
Yenisleidy Gonzalez Leon
Care Coordination and Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
“Advanced Practice Registered Nurses” [APRNs] training and knowledge help bridge the gap between medical and allied health. The APRNS is licensed to practice in all states and territories in the United States under the following four roles: encompass four distinct role types: Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) (Boehning & Punsalan, 2023). The CNPs are authorized to diagnose and treat a wide array of medical conditions, while the CNMs are primarily responsible for caring for women. Meanwhile, the CNSs are experts in a specific area of healthcare, while the CRNAs are specialized in administering anesthesia. Each of the roles played by the APRNS aims to provide direct care to individuals and families.
The APRN roles have existed for a century. Some of the APRN roles have existed across different cultures since the 1800s; such roles as the CNM evolved due to the opposition to midwife-assisted births and the inclination towards science and pain relief during the birth process. The first NP role was developed in 1960 by Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry Silver, driven by the need to increase access to pediatric care (Berg, 2020). The rationale for the development of the NP roles was also based on the premise that challenges associated with access to care can be resolved through the NP with the prerequisite training to provide high-quality care. The CNS expanded in late 1965 in response to the Vietnam War but was not widely adopted for full practice until the 1990s (Boehning & Punsalan, 2023). Over time, the NP-related role evolved, with the CRNA role evolving in response to the demand due to the world wars, while the credential for some programs, such as the CRNA, began in late 1956. Thus, the APRN role has evolved in response to population healthcare needs within a given context.
The responsibilities of the APRN differ, but all strive to attain the same objective of providing quality care. Overall, APRNs are trained to provide direct and quality patient care, while each specific role focuses on health assessment, diagnosis, and developing and implementing treatment plans (Boehning & Punsalan, 2023). APRNs can also prescribe medication, but not in all states. Thus, the APRN’s role is central to addressing the current healthcare challenges and provides a means to attain the “triple aim” objectives.
