Personal Advanced Practice Nursing Philosophy
As I began my graduate studies in nursing, I reviewed the personal nursing philosophy statement that I prepared during my undergraduate studies. I found that the essence of my philosophy has not changed and is still consistent with my beliefs regarding nursing roles. However, because I am on the Leadership and Management MSN track, I feel my philosophy needs to evolve to reflect the role of an Advanced Practice Nurse in a leadership position.
Theorist Virginia Henderson’s philosophy is described in her “Needs Theory.” This theory supports the holistic care of patients, seeking to identify what a patient’s needs are and assisting them to do tasks that they are unable to perform. Sometimes a patient’s needs might not be physical, but instead might be a knowledge deficit (Need’s Theory, 2011).
In following this philosophy, we as nurses demonstrate how Henderson distinguished nursing from medicine: “the unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery, or to the peaceful death that he would perform unaided if he had the strength, will or knowledge” (Need’s Theory, 2011).
Advanced Practice Nursing is demonstrated when a nurse combines clinical expertise with a higher set of knowledge and critical thinking skills learned through education for application in clinical care (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p. 23). In a position of leadership, the Advanced Practice Nurse does not necessarily play a direct role in patient care. However, I believe the foundation of my nursing philosophy will help me guide other nurses that I have the responsibility to mentor and supervise. One component of this is teaching that nurses are an integral part of healthcare and that we have the opportunity through EBP to contribute to and advance our profession (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p. 5). It becomes evident that Henderson’s Theory does not need to be applied strictly to patient care. These same principles can be applied to the management style of a nurse leader. Evaluating the needs of nurses and teaching them what they need to know to perform tasks while supporting their efforts could be considered a holistic approach to management.
Because the healthcare system faces many challenges including reimbursement, finances, outcomes, patient satisfaction, and nursing shortages, Advance Practice Nursing can be an integral part of the solution. By applying my nursing philosophy, nurse leaders could develop policies that educate nurses in the best EBP’s for health promotion and health restoration. This is consistent with Henderson’s Theory. To offer EBP’s to patients fulfills the holistic component of nursing care. Patient education provides a solution to knowledge deficit.
I feel that, through education and experience, Advance Practice Nurse Administrators can assist in maintaining health system integrity by combining science, business, organizational practices and resources (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.67). This allows us as nurses to feel a sense of ownership in healthcare.
Advanced Practice Nurses have completed a higher level of education that allows them to combine nursing science and practice. This is different from nurse providers and other healthcare fields where skills and tasks are the main focus (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.24).
One way Advanced Practice Nursing fits into society is by application of higher knowledge and skills to multiple roles, including public health. EPB can be integrated into nursing research and epidemiological studies (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.83). The American Nurses Association supports the political and legislative involvement of Advanced Practice Nurses. Some examples include Coalition for Patient’s Rights, Consensus Model for APRN regulation and Legal Action issues (American Nurses Association, 2013).
References
American Nurses Association (2013). Advanced Practice Nurses Scope of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/AdvancedPracticeNurses/Scope-of-Practice-2.
Pulcini, J. (2013). Advanced practice nursing: moving beyond the basics. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (pp. 23-24.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Wolf, K.A. (2013). The slow march to professional practice. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (p.5.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Virginia Henderson’s Needs Theory (2011). Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html.
Zaccagnini, M. (2013). Emerging roles for the DNP: Nurse Educator, nurse administrator, nursing leaders, nurse entrepreneurs and community health. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (pp.67 & 83.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Theorist Virginia Henderson’s philosophy is described in her “Needs Theory.” This theory supports the holistic care of patients, seeking to identify what a patient’s needs are and assisting them to do tasks that they are unable to perform. Sometimes a patient’s needs might not be physical, but instead might be a knowledge deficit (Need’s Theory, 2011).
In following this philosophy, we as nurses demonstrate how Henderson distinguished nursing from medicine: “the unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery, or to the peaceful death that he would perform unaided if he had the strength, will or knowledge” (Need’s Theory, 2011).
Advanced Practice Nursing is demonstrated when a nurse combines clinical expertise with a higher set of knowledge and critical thinking skills learned through education for application in clinical care (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p. 23). In a position of leadership, the Advanced Practice Nurse does not necessarily play a direct role in patient care. However, I believe the foundation of my nursing philosophy will help me guide other nurses that I have the responsibility to mentor and supervise. One component of this is teaching that nurses are an integral part of healthcare and that we have the opportunity through EBP to contribute to and advance our profession (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p. 5). It becomes evident that Henderson’s Theory does not need to be applied strictly to patient care. These same principles can be applied to the management style of a nurse leader. Evaluating the needs of nurses and teaching them what they need to know to perform tasks while supporting their efforts could be considered a holistic approach to management.
Because the healthcare system faces many challenges including reimbursement, finances, outcomes, patient satisfaction, and nursing shortages, Advance Practice Nursing can be an integral part of the solution. By applying my nursing philosophy, nurse leaders could develop policies that educate nurses in the best EBP’s for health promotion and health restoration. This is consistent with Henderson’s Theory. To offer EBP’s to patients fulfills the holistic component of nursing care. Patient education provides a solution to knowledge deficit.
I feel that, through education and experience, Advance Practice Nurse Administrators can assist in maintaining health system integrity by combining science, business, organizational practices and resources (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.67). This allows us as nurses to feel a sense of ownership in healthcare.
Advanced Practice Nurses have completed a higher level of education that allows them to combine nursing science and practice. This is different from nurse providers and other healthcare fields where skills and tasks are the main focus (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.24).
One way Advanced Practice Nursing fits into society is by application of higher knowledge and skills to multiple roles, including public health. EPB can be integrated into nursing research and epidemiological studies (DeNisco & Barker, 2013, p.83). The American Nurses Association supports the political and legislative involvement of Advanced Practice Nurses. Some examples include Coalition for Patient’s Rights, Consensus Model for APRN regulation and Legal Action issues (American Nurses Association, 2013).
References
American Nurses Association (2013). Advanced Practice Nurses Scope of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/AdvancedPracticeNurses/Scope-of-Practice-2.
Pulcini, J. (2013). Advanced practice nursing: moving beyond the basics. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (pp. 23-24.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Wolf, K.A. (2013). The slow march to professional practice. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (p.5.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Virginia Henderson’s Needs Theory (2011). Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html.
Zaccagnini, M. (2013). Emerging roles for the DNP: Nurse Educator, nurse administrator, nursing leaders, nurse entrepreneurs and community health. In S.M. DeNisco & A.M. Barker (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd. Ed,). (pp.67 & 83.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.