Introduction
Few healthcare fields are as important and confusing as nursing is. Not only are there various nurse roles, but there are also various types of nursing. Probably, the most confusion is created by advanced nursing practice and advanced practice nursing. Despite sounding similar, both are distinct in the array of functions that nurses can perform. Both require years of education, practice, and numerous certifications to be able to work. Understanding the difference between advanced nursing practice and advanced practice nursing is essential in ascertaining the specifics of the role of gerontological nurse practitioners.
Differences
Advanced practice nursing refers to the multitude of healthcare interventions that have a direct impact on patient outcomes. An essential requirement to be an advanced practice nurse (APN) is to have a master’s degree (International Council of Nurses, 2020). It allows APNs to pursue higher education. Such a professional possesses diagnostic skills and is capable of performing and interpreting the results of tests, delivering actual treatment, counseling and educating patients, as well as other tasks related to health management. Unlike advanced nursing practice, advanced practice nursing is more general and less specialized. If an APN undergoes certification they receive the title of an advanced practice registered nurse.
Advanced nursing practice is the field of patient care extending beyond practice into theoretical work and contribution to nursing knowledge. The specific specialists representing this field are nurse practitioners who are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) possessing the knowledge, skills, and authority to work autonomously (Kidner, 2022). Whereas advanced practice nursing is practice-oriented, advanced nursing practice also encompasses leadership and research functions (International Council of Nurses, 2020). Overall, becoming a nurse practitioner is longer, requires more credentials, knowledge, skills, and experience than an APRN. However, not only nurse practitioners are more specialized, but they can also independently make healthcare decisions, which other nurses are not authorized.
Population Served
Advanced nursing practice allows nurses to work with different populations based on their specialty. The most common areas include family care, gerontology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and neonatal care (Comparing APRN vs. NP careers, 2022). The specific role that I pursue is the adult gerontology nursing practice. It encompasses healthcare services directed at people older than 65. This population is especially reliant on nursing practice since there are multiple needs that patients in this age group cannot meet on their own. The role of nurse practitioners is to ensure illness prevention in management while considering the possible age-related complications.
The importance of gerontological nursing practice is high and is likely to increase in the coming years. First, the American population is gradually aging as more baby boomers reach their retirement age. Not only does it imply that more patients will require care, but it also means the rising complexity of health complications (Kennedy-Malone et al., 2018). In both cases, advanced nursing practice is essential in providing sufficient care to the growing number of older adults and ensuring autonomous and qualitative decision-making. Nurse practitioners synthesize their experience and theoretical work to outline effective healthcare interventions appropriate to the entire population.
Certification Opportunities
Becoming a nurse practitioner in gerontology requires obtaining an APRN license. Nurses who meet certification criteria gain the opportunity to practice nursing. First, it gives the nurse credibility as a specialist in a certain area of practice. Second, certification provides nurses with an opportunity to become employed in healthcare facilities. Third, it provides an unbiased measure of a nurse’s skills and knowledge. Finally, there is an overall patient preference for nurses who have certifications as opposed to those who have not been certified (Kennedy-Malone, 2018). As a result, obtaining a certification is an effective means of ensuring employers, colleagues, and patients’ trust.
Role Plan
The first step to becoming a nurse practitioner specializing in gerontology is to obtain a degree in nursing. It will allow the aspiring nurse to receive the starting education and acquire the theoretical and practical fundamentals of nursing. Although the degree can be undergraduate, it is necessary to have a bachelor’s degree to proceed further (International Council of Nurses, 2020). The next step is to earn a registered nurse license. Obtaining it requires passing a test as well as meeting other state-specific criteria. Once the RN license is obtained, a nurse can start working with their target population.
In the case of gerontological nurse practice, the population is comprised of senior people. As a result, it is important to find a facility, which provides care for the older population as well as clinical hours for nurse practitioners. It will provide nurses with the experience, which will help making decisions at a later stage. The fourth step is to receive an accredited gerontology education program graduating from which would also provide the title of a Master of Science in Nursing. The final step is to acquire Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification.
This document proves that a nurse has passed a comprehensive board examination. However, before applying for this certification, it is necessary to accumulate enough hours of supervised clinical practice to meet the examination criteria. Once it is obtained, it is possible to work as a fully-fledged gerontological nurse practitioner. However, there is also an opportunity to obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This degree will make the nurse eligible for leadership positions, which are not open to those who have only a master’s degree. Following this plan will allow the nurse to work with the elderly population in a variety of settings and multiple roles.
State-Specific Implications
Although certification allows a nurse practitioner to operate in any state, there may also be additional local requirements. Not all states have laws that enable nurse practitioners to exercise nursing practice equally. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners outlines three layers of practice environment in the United States – full, reduced, and restricted practice (State Practice Environment, n.d.). Full practice allows nurse practitioners to perform the full entirety of nursing functions, such as diagnosis and interpretation of tests. The reduced practice limits the functions of nurse practitioners but does not prohibit them directly. Meanwhile, the restricted practice strictly delineates the area of practice, which may result in nurse practitioners being unable to diagnose patients in such states as North Carolina, Florida, and California.
Conclusion
Altogether, it should be evident despite having similar tasks, advanced nursing practice and advanced practice nursing have different applications. Practice nursing implies medical interventions, while nursing practice presupposes leadership and theory within a specific population, as well as practice. To become a nurse practitioner, it is essential to have a master’s degree, a corresponding certification, and a sufficient amount of clinical experience while progressing further requires obtaining a doctor’s degree. Ultimately, each state determines on its own what exact requirements for advanced nurse practices there are.
References
Comparing APRN vs. NP careers. (2022). Web.
International Council of Nurses (2020). Guidelines on Advanced Practice Nursing 2020. Web.
Kennedy-Malone, L., Martin-Plank, L., & Duffy, E. (2018). Advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults. FA Davis Company.
Kidner, M. (2022). Successful advanced practice nurse role transition: A structured process to developing professional identity through role transition. Springer International Publishing AG.
State Practice Environment. (n.d.). Web.