Philosophy of Advanced Practice Nursing
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) describes nurse practitioners as healthcare providers who not only provide diagnostic and management services, but health promotion and disease prevention as well (AANP, 2013). My own philosophy of advanced practice nursing echoes these precepts. As a nurse practitioner, I want to work with patients to promote wellness through best practices, to prevent or delay the onset of overt disease, and to practice patient- and family-centered care.
As an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), I will be able to offer diagnostic and disease management services, drawing from best evidence-based medical practices. APNs are trained to evaluate best practice guidelines from research and professional organizations. By utilizing consensus-based, best practice expert guidelines, nurse practitioners can bring high-quality, cost-effective clinical care to people in their own communities.
Health promotion, through patient, family, and community education improves lives. Many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are preceded by a period of sub-clinical disease. Managing health problems early through a combination of lifestyle choices and sometimes medication, may be able to prevent these diseases entirely or minimize their effects. For example, it is well known that in Type 2 diabetes, managing blood sugar levels early through a combination of lifestyle and oral medications can delay or prevent the need for injected insulin, and prevent the complications of blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure. This is the crux of health promotion – encouraging positive health habits to facilitate wellness and diminish the impact of disease.
I also believe strongly that advanced practice nursing needs to be patient and family centered. Not all regimens work equally well for all patients. Some patients prefer more holistic methods of managing health, while others are willing to incorporate medications into daily routines. The utility of prescribing a particular treatment is entirely negated if a patient cannot afford it, or simply will not take it. Similarly, counseling a patient regarding diet changes to a patient is of limited use if the patient has no input into the planning or preparation of family meals. Instead, the nurse practitioner’s practice should be patient- and family-centered. As a partner, the nurse practitioner works with patients and families to mutually decide goals and treatment plans. By discovering what health practices will work within the patient’s and family’s lifestyle, the nurse practitioner can then recommend practices the patient and family that work for the family.
By practicing patient- and family-centered care, intervening early in disease processes and promoting health, and using best evidence-based practices, the nurse practitioner can optimize patient health.
AANP (2013). Scope of practice for nurse practitioners. American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Austin, Texas.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) describes nurse practitioners as healthcare providers who not only provide diagnostic and management services, but health promotion and disease prevention as well (AANP, 2013). My own philosophy of advanced practice nursing echoes these precepts. As a nurse practitioner, I want to work with patients to promote wellness through best practices, to prevent or delay the onset of overt disease, and to practice patient- and family-centered care.
As an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), I will be able to offer diagnostic and disease management services, drawing from best evidence-based medical practices. APNs are trained to evaluate best practice guidelines from research and professional organizations. By utilizing consensus-based, best practice expert guidelines, nurse practitioners can bring high-quality, cost-effective clinical care to people in their own communities.
Health promotion, through patient, family, and community education improves lives. Many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are preceded by a period of sub-clinical disease. Managing health problems early through a combination of lifestyle choices and sometimes medication, may be able to prevent these diseases entirely or minimize their effects. For example, it is well known that in Type 2 diabetes, managing blood sugar levels early through a combination of lifestyle and oral medications can delay or prevent the need for injected insulin, and prevent the complications of blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure. This is the crux of health promotion – encouraging positive health habits to facilitate wellness and diminish the impact of disease.
I also believe strongly that advanced practice nursing needs to be patient and family centered. Not all regimens work equally well for all patients. Some patients prefer more holistic methods of managing health, while others are willing to incorporate medications into daily routines. The utility of prescribing a particular treatment is entirely negated if a patient cannot afford it, or simply will not take it. Similarly, counseling a patient regarding diet changes to a patient is of limited use if the patient has no input into the planning or preparation of family meals. Instead, the nurse practitioner’s practice should be patient- and family-centered. As a partner, the nurse practitioner works with patients and families to mutually decide goals and treatment plans. By discovering what health practices will work within the patient’s and family’s lifestyle, the nurse practitioner can then recommend practices the patient and family that work for the family.
By practicing patient- and family-centered care, intervening early in disease processes and promoting health, and using best evidence-based practices, the nurse practitioner can optimize patient health.
AANP (2013). Scope of practice for nurse practitioners. American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Austin, Texas.