NURS 6565: Synthesis in Advanced Practice Care of Complex Patients in Primary Care Settings | Week 1

In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Loretta Ford, known as the pioneer for nurse practitioners (NPs), was a public health nurse in rural Colorado. During that time period there was a shortage of physicians to care for children and families. In 1965, Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry K. Silver started the first pediatric nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Since this time, nurse practitioners have been in great demand to meet the health care needs of individuals, families and communities. The year 2015, marked the 50th year of NPs providing care to a variety of patients across the lifespan in primary, acute, and subspecialty care areas.

The role of nurse practitioners has evolved over the years. Nurse practitioners are prepared to prevent diseases, promote health, treat diseases, and support health maintenance. Nurse practitioners are well known and equipped to provide safe, quality, cost-effective, and accessible care.

This week you will focus on the emerging role of nurse practitioners and review the history and practices of nurse practitioners. Also, you will explore the emerging role of nurse practitioners in clinical settings, conduct a professional self-assessment, and you will develop goals for mastery of clinical skills.

 

Learning Objectives – Practicum Assignment 1: Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills NURS6565

By the end of this week, students will:

• Create professional goals to support your transition from RN to NP practice to promote positive social change
• Evaluate mastery of NP clinical skills
• Evaluate professional strengths and weaknesses
• Analyze practices of advanced practice nurses

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this module. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this module’s assigned Learning Resources.

Required Readings – Practicum Assignment 1: Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills NURS6565

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (n.d.). Nurse practitioners in primary care. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/images/documents/publications/primarycare.pdf

Buppert, C. (2018). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide (6th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Bartlett & Jones Learning.

• Chapter 1, “What Is a Nurse Practitioner” (pp. 1-16)
• Appendix 1-B: State-by-State Titles for Nurse Practitioners (p. 36)

This chapter covers the definition of an NP, other names used for NPs, services rendered by NPs, and preparation and license requirements for NPs. It also covers initials used by NPs, areas of practice, legal history, and distinguishing between a nurse practitioner, a physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, and clinical nurse specialist.

CNA, & Nurses Service Organization (2012). Risk control self-assessment checklist for nurse practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.hpso.com/Documents/Risk%20Education/individuals/NP_RM_Checklist_2012.pdf

Ford, L. C. (2015). Reflections on 50 years of change. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(6), 294-295.

Hamric, A. B., Hanson, C. M., Tracy, M. F., & O’Grady, E. T. (2014). International development of advanced practice nursing. In Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach(5th ed.) (133-143). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.

This chapter defines advanced practice nursing and explores the international evolution of the advanced practice nurse. It also discusses advanced practice nurse issues worldwide.

Kooienga, S.A. & Carryer, J.B. (2015). Globalization and advancing primary care health care nurse practitioner practice. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(8), 804–811. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.06.012

Naylor, M. D., & Kurtzman, E. T. (2010). The role of nurse practitioners in reinventing primary care. Health Affairs, 29(5), 893-899. Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/29/5/893.full.pdf+html

Reinisch, C. E. (2014). Loretta Ford: Envisioning the future. Clinical Scholars Review, 7(1), 82-84.

Silver, H. K,. Ford, L. C., & Day, L. R. (1968). The pediatric nurse-practitioner program: Expanding the role of the nurse to provide increased health care for children. JAMA, 204(4), 298-302.

Copyright 1968 by American Medical Association. Used with permission of American Medical Association via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Thomas, A. C., Crabtree, M. K., Delaney, K. R., Dumas, M. A., Kleinpell, R., Logsdon, C.,…Nativio, D. G. (2012). Nurse practitioner core competencies. Retrieved from http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/npcorecompetenciesfinal2012.pdf

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Human Resources (n.d.). SMART goals. Retrieved from http://hrweb.mit.edu/performance-development/goal-setting-developmental-planning/smart-goals

Note: SMART Goals Learning Resource

Required Media

Barnes, S. (2014). What is a nurse practitioner? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91gqaQs7Lc

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2011). The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation – Short-Length Version. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmbfWqxc6PA

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.

Feenstra, R. (2014). SMART Goals – Quick Overview. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SvuFIQjK8

Note: SMART Goals Learning Resource

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

Documents

Nurse Practitioner Certification and Licensure

Document: NP Certification and Licensure (PPT)

Nurse Practitioner Certification Applications Education Verification Form

Document: NP Certification Applications Education Verification Form (Word Document)

NP Clinical Skills & Procedures Checklist

Document: NP Clinical Skills & Procedures Checklist (Word Document)

NP Student Clinical Orientation

Document: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Student Clinical Orientation (PowerPoint file)

Additional Resources

All previous clinical course materials and textbooks.

Optional Resources – Practicum Assignment 1: Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills NURS6565

It is critical that you familiarize yourself with the essential documents that guide the practice of nursing. The following resources are highly recommended for addition to your professional library and you are encouraged to review these resources each week.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2016). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/index.php

It is highly recommended that you become a member of a professional advanced practice nursing organization such as American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This organization has great benefits for student members, practicing NPs, and retirees, which allows networking, access to journals, and other resources.

Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine, & Institute of Medicine (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Retrieved from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12956/the-future-of-nursing-leading-change-advancing-health

Assignment 1: Professional Goals

Developing professional goals is critical to guiding your career and transitioning to become a practicing NP. The goals that you develop should be SMART. SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-specific (Massachusetts Institute of Technology Human Resources, n.d.). Keeping your goals SMART will increase your chances of meeting or exceeding your professional career goals.

For this Assignment, you will identify three short-term and three long-term goals. You also will explain how each goal relates to your professional career development and how you might achieve each of these goals.

To prepare:

• Review the SMART Goals Learning Resources
• Consider professional goals that you might select to help focus on your transition from RN to NP practice.

By Day 7

For this Assignment, write a paper that is no more than 2 pages long that addresses the following:

• Identify at least three short-term goals (1-2 years)
• Identify at least three long-term goals (3-5 years)
• Explain why you selected each goal and how they relate to your professional career development
• Create a strategic plan that explains how you might achieve each of these goals

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 1 Assignment 1 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK1Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Assignment 1 Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 1 Assignment 1 draft, and review the originality report

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:

Week 1 Assignment 1

Assignment 2: Practicum Assignment 1: Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills

A self-assessment is an opportunity for you to review what you have learned in the program, evaluate your clinical skills, and develop goals before exiting the NP program. For this assignment, you will complete the Risk Control Self-Assessment Checklist for Nurse Practitioners and identify your areas of strength and weakness. You also will explain how you plan to improve on these weaknesses, as well as how you plan to master clinical skills you have not obtained prior to exiting NP program.

To prepare:

• Complete the Risk Control Self-Assessment Checklist for Nurse Practitioners
• Review preceptor and faculty evaluations in Meditrek for all completed clinical courses
• Consider your strengths and weaknesses
• Review types of patients treated and clinical procedures performed

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

• Identify at least three strengths
• Explain why you consider these strengths and what you can do to maintain them in your practice
• Identify at least three weaknesses
• Explain how you plan to address each weakness
• Examine at least three clinical skills you need to obtain prior to exiting the program
• Explain how you plan to master the clinical skills before exiting NP program
• Analyze the history of advanced practice nurses and the emerging role of your specialty area, and discuss what contributions you plan to make to advance the nursing profession

 

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK1Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 1 Assignment 2 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK1Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Assignment 2 Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 1 Assignment 2 draft, and review the originality report

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:

Assignment 3: Practicum Journal and Time Log

“A vital part of the reflective process is to plan for changes in your behavior.”

— Somerville & Keeling, 2004.

Being a reflective practitioner enables NPs to identify weaknesses and target professional development in order to address these weaknesses. In turn, this increases the NPs’ ability to provide the best care to patients and their families. Reflection also affords the NP time to consider communication and their efforts toward creating a culture of mutual support with colleagues, a characteristic that is essential to successful NP practice (Somerville & Keeling, 2004).

Each week you will complete a Journal Entry and Time Log that prompts you to reflect on your Practicum Experiences and how they relate to your Professional Goals and Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills. This week you will begin documenting your Practicum Experiences in your Practicum Journal.

To prepare

For this course’s Practicum Experience, address the following in your Practicum Journal:

• From your perspective, explain the role of nurse practitioners in clinical settings
• Develop goals and objectives for the Practicum Experience in this course
• Create a proposed timeline of practicum activities based on your practicum requirements.
• The Practicum Journal and Time Log Assignment for Weeks 1 – 4 are due by Day 7 of Week 4.

Time Logs

You are required to keep a log of the time you spend related to your practicum experience and enter every patient you see each day. You can access your Time Log from the Welcome Page in your Meditrek account. You will track time individually for each patient you work with. Please make sure to continuously input your hours throughout the term. Logs are reviewed by your instructors in Weeks 4, 7 and 10. Practicum Assignment 1: Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills NURS6565

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills

Introduction

You’ve been on the job for a few years now, but you still have room for improvement. You’re making progress, but there are some areas that need work. If you want to do better at your job, you have to be honest with yourself about what your strengths and weaknesses are as well as how they affect your performance. Here’s how:

Briefly describe your own strengths, weaknesses, skills and abilities.

The first step to improving your clinical skills is to take the time to reflect on yourself. You may find it helpful to write down your strengths, weaknesses, skills and abilities in this self-assessment. You can also include any experience you have had in this field so far.

This exercise will help you know where to focus your efforts when working on improving yourself as a nurse practitioner (NP).

Describe your clinical or life experiences.

Describe your clinical or life experiences.

What have you learned from your experiences? What skills have you learned, and how do they help you in the practice of medicine? How do these skills differ from those of other healthcare providers in your community or state, and why do they matter so much to them (and to the patients)?

Describe a failure you have experienced at work or in school and how you overcame it.

I was an assistant manager at a fast food restaurant. I was working my first job and had never really worked with people before, but it seemed like everyone else there had been doing this for years. One day, we were short one person on the floor and decided to hire someone off the street who looked just like me. We put him in charge of ordering supplies and such things as plates, napkins, condiments—basically anything that would need to be ordered by customers at our store. The problem began when he started ordering too much product! He kept forgetting where everything was stored (which happened quite often) or forgetting what items were on sale that week/month/year…and so forth..and so on..you get the picture

I tried to tell him how important these details were for our business’ success but his response every time was “I’ll figure it out”, which only made matters worse as we ended up wasting valuable space in our storage room full of inventory because he couldn’t remember where everything went when we needed it most! Luckily though – after several months spent trying different strategies – we finally found a solution: assign each employee their own specific job within each department so they could take care of all tasks themselves without having any help from anyone else except their direct supervisor or manager.”

Describe your greatest professional and personal accomplishments.

Describe your greatest professional and personal accomplishments.

• Include examples of your greatest professional and personal accomplishments.

• Describe the skills you used to achieve these accomplishments, including the people who were involved in helping you learn those skills.

What are some of the most important things you learned after being on the job for a few years?

What are some of the most important things you learned after being on the job for a few years?

• List the most important things you learned after being on the job for a few years.

• Describe the skills you learned.

• Describe the people you met, and how they helped shape your career path or career goals.

• What challenges did you overcome? How did they challenge your skillset and make them grow, both professionally and personally?

• What mistakes have been made over time that were overcome by learning from them (like never getting stuck in a bad habit again).

You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself.

You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself. In fact, it’s better when you’re honest with yourself and ask for help when you need it.

When I was younger, my parents used to tell me that if I wanted something done right or fast, then they would do it themselves because they had better things to do than babysit me all day long. But now that I’m older, my mom has started taking care of her grandson full time so she doesn’t have time for me anymore! And even though this has been difficult for both of us in different ways… we’ve still managed our problems together as partners rather than adversaries (or worse).

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you to see the value in self-assessment. As we’ve discussed, it can be a useful tool for figuring out what kind of person you are, what you want to do with your career, and even how well prepared you are for upcoming challenges. But remember that a self-inventory isn’t just about finding out about yourself: it can also help other people who work with or around you get a better sense of where they stand as well! If anything from this article resonated with anything else in your own life—or if there were parts that didn’t make much sense at all—now might be an excellent time to revisit those topics again