Question

identify a current health policy issue relevant to APNs and explain why it is important to stay current on changes to this policy.?

Answer 1

APN roles are the ideal choice for implementing primary healthcare services to enhance universal health coverage and access to health. The APN role faces some implementation barriers including lack of role clarity, legislation/regulation, education, funding, and physician resistance. Strong and vivid policies on common APN issues are essential to building a healthy and successful role implementation. As working towards independent practice, The APNs face external challenges from medicine and internal barriers within the domain of nursing.

The paper presented by “The advanced practice nursing (APN) movement” reflects the major practice issues raised at the 7th International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network Conference, a subgroup of the International Council on Nursing (ICN), in London in August 2012. The vital issues labelled at the conference are independent practice, barriers to practice, educational standards, and the APN role in research and evidence-based practice.

The scope of APNs practice is mainly provided and direct an advanced level of quality healthcare. APNs must develop a strong practice model and exist as a more unified force in the quest for independent practice.

APN Research

The scope of nursing research is widened and sharpened its focus on the outcomes of healthcare design, delivery and education. The contribution of APN scholars to knowledge creation, application and analysis are remarkable. There are still controversies on the role of the APN in the research process, and the required academic preparation of APNs for this role.

The APNs must use critical analysis skills to critique, select and incorporate published clinical evidence to improve healthcare delivery practices. The continuous and efficient researchers will add to the evidence-based practice and improves the quality of care provided by the APNs.

Health care policies should define the APNs role in research and evidence-based practice. The APNs must always be updated on the policies regarding their practice to be efficient. The resistance from the medical professional may hinder the APN practice many times. The effective implementation and updating of policy will help to overcome such challenges and improve the practical outcomes. Development of consensus model and improvement as a unified force for independent practice by APNs will improve their role in the healthcare system.