Achieving maximal utilization of an advanced practice council.

In the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, it became increasingly apparent to those in advanced practice roles that a forum was needed to provide a supportive milieu in which nursing staff in expanded and advanced practice roles could come together and discuss the clinical needs of patients and nursing practice issues. Using a dynamic theoretical framework based upon the identification of need for such a forum, an Advanced Practice Council was established to: (1) enhance an understanding of the advanced practice role; (2) promote consultation, support, and networking among Council members; (3) facilitate and refine communication systems; (4) share new ideas; (5) collaborate for research; (6) contrast methods of practice; and (7) increase consultation services. The current activities of this group focus around role clarification and utilization. Peer review of advanced practice roles, for example, has been explored by the council and is in the stages of implementation. Future activities include examining the effects of expanded roles on staff practice and patient care, expanding standards of clinical nursing practice, and facilitating the autonomy of nursing practice through a privileging process.     

Clinical practice opportunities for advanced practice nurses

With approximately 132,000 practicing APNs and a continued need for APNs, the role will continue to expand. Many different business options and models for healthcare practice exist for the APN. Commonly thought of professional practice options for APNs include private practice, joint or collaborative practice, and group practice. Each model of professional practice brings with it different roles and responsibilities, rewards and challenges, and criteria for success. When evaluating different practice opportunities. APNs must be aware of each of these factors and evaluate each factor based on his or her chosen lifestyle. This article has presented an overview of common practice models and the roles and responsibilities, challenges and rewards, criteria for success, and lifestyle considerations inherent in each.     

专科护士的使用与管理

目的:总结该院专科护士的临床使用情况,探讨专科护士的科学使用方法,为临床更科学、有效地使用专科护士提供依据。方法:对该院38名专科护士的临床工作进行研究分析,并对专科护士的核心能力进行调查。结果:2010年该院专科护士开设护理门诊2个,组织与落实护理教学42例,撰写护理论文64篇,举办继续教育学习班15期,担任科室护理组长31人,制定专项技术指南6本,举办门诊义务健康教育12次。与普通护士相比,专科护士的核心能力提高显著。结论:专科护士制度是学科建设发展的方向,专科护士的临床使用要明确定位,专科护士的发展要循序渐进,逐步完善。     

Educating advanced practice nurses for practice reality.

The complexity of the current health care environment ethically mandates advanced practice nursing (APN) educators to prepare graduates with a clear understanding of APN roles and professional and regulatory issues for them to make a reasonable transition to the marketplace. Integrating both clinical content needed for APN practice and APN role issues can be a difficult balance. This article describes critical role content needed in APN programs and offers a variety of teaching strategies. Recommendations regarding the timing and placement of role content in the graduate curriculum also are offered. Although there is no one right way to build APN role content into graduate coursework, some approaches are preferable to others.     

Development of advanced practice nurses in South Korea

In Korea, since the first specialized areas of nursing were first recognized in 1973, 10 areas have been established by the Medicine Law, 2003: public health, anesthesia, mental health, home care nursing, gerontological nursing, critical care nursing, industrial nursing, hospice, emergency nursing, and infection control. Education for advanced practice nurses is the MSN level curriculum requiring 33 credit semester hours or more. However, there are several problems to be solved and challenges to be overcome before offering advanced nursing practice to the population. Those tasks and their plausible solutions were discussed in the article.     

Positioning advanced practice nurses for financial success in clinical practice

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are well prepared for patient care, but not for the financial aspects of clinical practice. A lack of reimbursement knowledge and skills limits the prospects for APNs to be key players in business and practice ventures. Faculty are challenged to strengthen the advanced practice reimbursement component of the financial management core to promote the reimbursement competency of APNs. The author discusses 4 primary content categories that are critical to financial success in clinical practice.     

Credentialing and privileging of advanced practice nurses

Credentialing and privileging are increasingly common administrative processes that advanced practice nurses must complete. With the intention of assuring the public of safe health care provided by qualified personnel, several federal and state organizations have developed criteria that licensed practitioners must meet. Managed care organizations are also creating credentialing and privileging guidelines for practitioners who are applying to their provider panels. Understanding the requirements of these processes is essential to advanced practice nurses establishing themselves in practice. This article explains the guidelines from federal, state, and institutional agencies and offers recommendations to practitioners as they prepare for the credentialing process. Also included are sample forms for establishing a practice agreement and a privilege-delineation request.     

眼科高级实践护士发展现状

介绍了眼科高级实践护士(APN)产生的背景,分别从角色范围、工作方式、价值作用、培养方式及资格认证等方面阐述了国外眼科APN的培养及发展现状,并描述了国内眼科领域的相关探索,提出借助国外经验,构建我国眼科APN培养模式的必要性。