Advanced nursing practice is an emerging field of practice that has come about as a result of development in nursing practice. Advanced nursing practice is the practice of nursing where practitioners are registered to a nursing board and exhibits specialized skills and knowledge (Lowes, 2000). Advanced knowledge is either gained through education, experiences and exposure to management of different clinical conditions. Further development of competence through attendance of professional courses and seminars are the hallmarks of this advanced practice.
The role is of more relevance where levels of clinical discretion, responsibility and autonomy are required to be of high standards. Nursing as a profession is highly dependent on the dynamics of the social system. Any improvements in standards of living and educational levels often lead to more specialized needs and increased awareness by nurses and patients on the need for professionalism in nursing. Over the past two decades, standards of living have increased due to development in technology, economics and information availability.
The internet and emergence of computers are some of the factors that have contributed immensely to increased patient awareness (Lowes, 2000). The patient-nurse relationship has developed a great deal; expectations of the patient on the nurses and what is needed of the nurse in management of patient conditions has changed considerable thus the need for advanced nursing practitioner is a reality that the entire social system is forced to come to terms with (McGee & Castledine, 2003). Legal systems have development more stringent laws on medical practice.
The patient has been given more autonomy and the place for the traditional nurse is dwindling in the current society. The past two centuries has seen the emergence of lethal disease. The 21st century alone has seen the development of health conditions like SARS and Bird flu, this trend is expected to continue thus the need for professionalism in nursing is on the increase . I am interested in the advanced nursing position for its provides the opportunity to continuously advance my skills as a nurse and help in alleviating the problems that the healthcare system is faced with.
The development of healthcare is central to social development since individual and communal health determine the levels of throughput individuals will achieve thus their contributions to the society (Sherwood, Brown, Fay & Wardell, 1997). I believe that with the kind of experience and level of education that I have attained I should be able to deliver the following: Provide effective and efficient care; delivered through high levels of autonomy to any group. Demonstrate leadership and initiate change in improving outcomes of clients, systems and organizations.
Deliberate and integrate the use of nursing knowledge, clinical skills and integration of other disciples in ensuring proper management and meet of healthcare objectives. Display depth and range in knowledge drawing from a variety of strategies to meet the needs of clients and improve access and quality of healthcare. Explain and apply theoretical, ethical and experimental principles of nursing practice. Understand, develop and disseminate evidence based nursing knowledge.