Essay Sample on Advanced Practice Nursing: Education Requirements and Benefits

Introduction

Regulations require a nurse to acquire post-graduate education for them to qualify as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), also known as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) (the State of Georgia, 2020). APNs receive training in the scope of nursing practice, advanced didactic, skills, knowledge, and clinical education. As a result, advanced practice nursing makes use of the nurses' experience, assessment knowledge, as well as diagnosis and evaluation of care. APNs can work in either specialist or generalist capacity. Examples of APNs include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric/Mental Health (CNS/PMH), as well as Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS). APNs are governed by the board of nursing but are also subject to state regulations. As a result, advanced practice nursing may vary according to state. For this discussion, the focus will be on the state of Georgia. The paper will discuss the requirements for APNs within the state of Georgia and their impacts on nursing practice within the state.

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The foundation for regulatory policy-making and legislation that assure public safety comes from the essential documents from the profession. According to the American Nurses Association (n.d), the interpretation of specific acts, not evident conclusively in the Nurse Practice Act, is provided by the regulatory body in the form of an opinion. Examples include; the parameters of participation in the radiologic procedure, Who may perform micro-dermabrasion? Under what circumstances? And whether an APRN can administer IV anesthetics for intractable pain.

The wide variation in APNs and state statutes warrants the APNs to have a clear understanding of how those laws and regulations define their scope of practice as well as the opinions communicated by the state regulatory agency.

The State of Georgia authorizes APNs to practice in the categories of CRNA, Nurse practitioner, CNS, and CNS in psychiatric and mental health (the State of Georgia, 2020). Each APN is required to use the category designation for documentation and identification purposes. It is important to note that in some states, the CNS is left out of the nurse practice act. In such states, CNS get to be held in the same area of practice as registered nurses within the same state. As for the CRNAs, their scope of practice is not evident in all states, but fairly standard (American Nurses Association, n.d).

Georgia authorizes only a registered professional nurse that has been authorized to practice according to the rules to practice as an APN. The state does, however, make an exception for those authorized by the board. Since Masters of Science in Nursing (MSC) allows nurses to become experts in a nursing specialty, the nursing board can create exceptions for nurses to go and treat specific populations within the state of Georgia or diseases. It is also important to note that APNs operate within a greater level of autonomy than their counterparts in the lower divisions (. Their higher level of experience and education allows them to operate with little or no supervision. They get to make more decisions about patient care since they possess the necessary knowledge.

Also, APNs play a more significant role in managing patients as well as group care. That causes them to operate with closer collaboration to clients and patients by using advanced care to maximize positive outcomes. One of the specific areas of management for APNs is labor and physical resources. APNs get to ensure that those working with them practice ethical nursing that is within the state's laws and regulations. As a result, APNs are required to have significant knowledge of the federal and state statutes that would enable them to monitor their workmates' adherence to these laws and regulations.

In the State of Georgia, APNs are authorized to perform certain medical tasks functions such as treatments, diagnostic studies, and ordering drugs. The state divides the rules according to the category, as discussed above. That is, there are different rules for CNMs, CRNAs, CNS, and Nursing practitioners. The CNM generally works with women ranging from teenagers to those in menopause. CNMs are responsible for primary and gynecological care. According to Nurse License Map (2020), CNM's focus on reproductive care despite the provision of care to women of all ages. They provide care to women during pregnancy as well as pre-natal and post-natal care and giving birth. In some cases, CNMs provide care for newborns during the early stages.

Georgia state rules require CNMs to be certified by the ACNM certification council issued authority to practice by the board. Their training course requires the completion of a post-basic nursing program for midwives. The nursing program contains theoretical and practical components. However, additional advanced pharmacology or a separate program is also a requirement within the profession. According to Rules for CNMs within the state of Georgia, a CNM must adhere to the board approved American College of Nurse-Midwives' current Standards of the Practice of Nurse-Midwifery (the State of Georgia, 2020).

Another prominent category of APNs is the CRNAs. The CRNAs are the highest-paid nurse specialists. Their work entails assisting with pain during childbirth, administering anesthesia in surgery, and overseeing couscous sedation (BryantLukosius, DiCenso, Browne, & Pinelli, 2004).). Unlike the other types of APNs, CRNAs operate with a slightly lesser degree of autonomy. They may need a doctor as they practice or need consent. Georgia State requires CRNAs to be certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for nurse anesthetists. Also, CRNAs need the board's approval for them to practice.

Another category for APNs includes clinical nurse specialists such as CNS and PMH. Clinical nurse specialists may act as consultants where they provide recommendations about patient care, or a hospital unit should operate. They can also take up management and leadership roles where they make decisions on patient care. In terms of mental/psychiatric health, a clinical nurse specialist provides consultation, psychotherapy, liaison services, and clinical supervision. The Georgia state prioritizes the board approved standards of the American Nurses Association, which the clinical nurse specialists must adhere to.

As of January 1ST, 2012, those seeking authorization as APNs to practice as Clinical Nurse Specialists need to submit evidence of licensure as a registered professional in Georgia (the State of Georgia, 2020). They also need to submit a board authorization with the required fee. Also, an official transcript that verifies a higher degree in nursing or a post-master's certificate from an approved nursing education program with specialization as a CNS. The state also needs to verify the current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Alternatively, an approved national certifying body can verify. The state regulations are subject to change depending on the current administration. There have been some calls for state boards of nursing to have sole authority over APNs (Lugo, Grady, Hodnicki, and Hanson, 2007). Also, there are several certifying bodies involved in the certification of APNs, and the state's board has to choose the ones to be recognized. Other than the ones already mentioned earlier, the Georgia state recognizes the National Certification Corporation, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Pediatric Nursing Certification, American Nursing Credentialing Center, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation.

References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). APRN State Law and Regulation. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/state/aprn-state-law-and-regulation/

BryantLukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Browne, G., & Pinelli, J. (2004). Advanced practice nursing roles: development, implementation, and evaluation. Journal of advanced nursing, 48(5), 519-529.

Gardner, G., Chang, A., & Duffield, C. (2007). Making nursing work: breaking through the role confusion of advanced practice nursing. Journal of advanced nursing, 57(4), 382-391.

Lugo, N. R., O'Grady, E. T., Hodnicki, D. R., & Hanson, C. M. (2007). Ranking state NP regulation: Practice environment and consumer healthcare choice. American Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(4), 8-24.

Nurse License Map. (2020). Advanced Practice Nurses. Retrieved January 18, 2020, from https://nursinglicensemap.com/advanced-practice-nursing/

The state of Georgia. (2020). Chapter 410-11 REGULATION OF ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/410-11?urlRedirected=yes&data=admin&lookingfor=410-11