The Nurse Practitioner

Paper Summary:

The paper highlights the need for nurse practitioners but points to a number of obstacles facing this role, such as out-dated policies, legislation and fee-for-service structures. The paper discusses how the general public and the government lack understanding of what the term nurse practitioner actually means, causing nurse practitioners to confront issues of identity, status and legitimacy. The paper concludes that one of the most essential needs is a common curriculum in education that will prepare nurse practitioners for practice.

From the Paper:

"The role of the nurse practitioner is extremely important to nursing because it expands the scope of practice and opens new opportunities for meeting the needs of a changing health care system (CNO, 2005). Nurse practitioners work in many settings such as pediatric or family care, and specialize in illnesses such as AIDS. Melnechencko (2006) discusses the advanced practice role of the nurse practitioner in the field of acute geriatrics. She maintains that the nurse practitioner is a skilled nursing clinician as well as a practice leader who is capable of creating a significant impact on care in a wide variety of settings."

Sample of Sources Used:

• College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (2005). A health regulatory scan. Accessed February 15, 2007. http://www.cno.org/policy/scans/2005/2005-12_EnviroScan.pdf
• Haines, J. (1993). The Nurse Practitioner. Ottawa: Canadian Nurses Association.
• McIntyre, M., E. Thomlinson & McDonald, C. (2006). Realities of Canadian Nursing, 2nd edition. London: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
• Melnechencko, K. (2006). Acute care nurse practitioner: Gerontology. RNAO. Accessed February 15, 2007. http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=997

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