Page 26 - April 2017 Life In Naplles Magazine

Change your way of thinking
about Nursing!

by Jane Cox PhD, ARNP
N ursing has gone through great changes in the past century. At

one point, most training occurred in the hospitals themselves.
By the turn of the century, most nurses were studying at
Community Colleges or Universities. The Committee on the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) developed a report, The Future of Nursing
Leading Change: Advancing Health, to help nurses overcome barriers to
practice and care. The report was geared towards assisting the practice
of nursing in determining vital roles needed to address increasing
demands of high-quality, safe, and effective health care. It consisted of
four key messages and eight recommendations to affect change in the
healthcare delivery.
There are about 3,000,000 registered nurses in the U.S. According
to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 10 years ago, less Sandra Danielson, Talent Acquisition Manager for
than one percent of nurses had advanced (masters or PhD) degrees. NCH Healthcare System, reported that in 2016, 19
Today,about 13 percent are advanced practice nurses. Advanced Practice Practitioners were hired and 299
There are four roles associated with the advanced practice Registered Nurses were also hired.
registered nurse; the nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse midwife The trend has been holding for several years as the
(CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and clinical NCH Physician Group continues to expand.
nurse specialist (CNS). All roles, clinical and non-clinical, require Nurse Practitioners are rapidly becoming the health
competence in nine Essential core areas delineated by the American care provider of choice for millions of Americans.
Association of Colleges of Nursing in The Essentials of Master’s What sets Nurse Practitioners apart from other health
Education in Nursing. Direct (clinical) patient care roles require care providers is their unique focus on the health and
licensure and involve providing care at the bedside, in clinics, hospitals, well-being of the whole person. By emphasizing health
and urgent care centers. These roles are defined by protocol as advanced promotion, disease prevention and meaningful education,
practice nursing. Indirect (non-clinical) care roles encompass areas of Nurse Practitioners are well-positioned to guide patients
master’s prepared nurses that are involved in administration, public toward healthier lifestyle choices. So, change your
health, informatics, and research. way of thinking and try out a visit to your area Nurse
Registered Nurses are given an exam and become licensed by their Practitioner.
state. Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants have extended
areas of expertise and practice. They hold advanced degrees and have
passed a national exam and become licensed by their state. About half Jane Cox PhD, ARNP, is the Executive Director for
are in the hospitals as acute care practitioners and the remainder are in NCH Community Home Care and teaches at FGCU in
private practice. Community Health and at NOVA Southeastern in Advanced
Practice Theory and Research.

26 Life in Naples | April 2017