Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Practice Essay
Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Practice Essay
- What nursing licenses does the APRN have and in what APRN role(s) and population foci does the Texas BON authorize this APRN to practice? How long has the APRN been practicing in this APRN role and population focus area? How long has he or she been in their current position?
- Where did the APRN obtain his/her post-basic RN training as an APRN? Was the program an accredited certificate program, an accredited Master’s level program or an accredited DNP program? In what ways did the APRN feel, or not feel, prepared to practice when they graduated? Compare the ways in which the APRN did or did not feel competentto the core and population competencies applicable to the APRN’s practice (i.e., NONPF core and population competencies for NPs). What does the APRN wish he or she had known when beginning practice that their educational program did not teach them?
- Who is the APRN’s employer? Does the APRN see patients in multiple practice settings? Describe each setting and the APRN’s role in that setting. Describe the collaborative relationship the APRN has with the physicians in his or her practice. What are some of the struggles/challenges and advantages of this relationship?
- Who is responsible for making practice decisions in the APRN’s workplace? Is this done by one person or is it a formalized collaborative process?
- Does the prescription form meet the legal requirements, or if prescribing electronically, is the APRN able to “sign” the prescriptions and include other required information? Does this APRN prescribe controlled substances? If so, what schedules does the APRN order or prescribe and what steps has the APRN taken to comply with the controlled substances laws?
- How are the services provided by the APRN reimbursed—under the APRN’s provider number or under the physician’s? If the APRN’s services are billed under the physician’s provider number, how does the practice ensure their billing is compliant with applicable laws such as Medicare incident to billing guidelines? If billing under the APRN’s provider number, in how many managed care (MC) plans is the APRN a provider? Did the APRN or employer encounter problems during the credentialing process? If the APRN is a primary care provider (PCP), is the APRN identified as a PCP on the MC plans? How does the practice ensure billing is compliant with applicable laws?
- How does the APRN keep current regarding the BON rules/regulations for APRNs in the state of Texas, or whatever state they are practicing in? Have they been involved in any performance outcome or quality improvement projects as an APRN? If so, describe their role and involvement in such a project.
- How does the APRN get involved in APRN/nursing leadership/policy/legislative activities (i.e., giving money, time)? Do they have an example of any sort of policy initiative they were involved in either at the facility level or hospital level or professional organization level?
- Does the APRN use any tools or standards to determine his or her ongoing competence to treat the APRN’s patient population? What process and/or documentation does the APRN use if expanding the competencies the APRN currently has (e.g., a professional portfolio)? Does this method meet BON requirements?
