In the nursing career, with one or two possible exceptions (certain maths or chemistry classes), almost all of the knowledge is needed in some way on a daily basis. This requires that the advanced levels of nursing (APN and PA) become substantive parts of the discipline of nursing. To do this, attendance at seminars, demonstrations, as well as refresher courses in managerial and clinical practice are not only necessary, but typically required for most certifications. This advanced education not only keeps the nurse fresh and up-to-date, but also allows for branching out into different sub-fields. For example, the ER nurse can focus on mental health or oncology, and pick up certifications that make them even more valuable to their organization (Arslanian-Engoren, Hicks, Whall, and Algase, 2005). Describe the advanced practice nurse's leadership role within the profession.

The field of modern medicine is quite complex when one realizes that it is not just about "healthcare" but contains a whole other level of expectations. In fact, the complexity of the modern role, especially the APN, is of nurse, nurse manager, clinician, physician's assistant, and patient advocate. It is the responsibility of the APN to improve patient and health-care systems from the inside out. This includes, but is not limited to, functional status, health status, quality of life, and satisfaction with care and cost-efficiency. There is a higher level of expectation from external stakeholders, and the impact, particularly in high-volume or critical care areas cannot be underestimated. Within the profession, there is simply no substitute for both vocal advocacy and role-modeling. The expectations that colleagues have of the APN is second only to a PA, and then sometimes even greater due to the dual roles the APN often adopts. Too, because of the advanced training, the APN can offer mentoring and an easier, less-threatening way of imparting knowledge than a strict academic program (McNeal and Walker, 2006).

Describe the advanced practice nurse's role as a professional role model.

Almost every scholarly work on APN cites the role of...

Certainly there are barriers to entry: more schooling, more clinical training, added expense, a broader job description requiring more time and effort away from home, and likely more travel (conferences, classes, and presentations, training). The fact that certain individuals go through this for their certification establishes them as someone to whom the rest of the nursing profession can admire as a role model. Past models of healthcare set up a rather strict hierarchy in which the efficiency levels of certain aspects of care were ignored in favor of protocol. The APN's role within the last two decades, however, has been to help change those limitations and add ways that help enhance existing models of care. Research in fact finds that as stakeholders participate with APN's the APN provides a greater degree of clarity, systems entry, and integration of roles and strategic planning for all concerned (Bryabt-Lukosius, DiCenso, Browne, and Pinelli, 2004).
Works Cited

Arslanian-Engoren, Hicks, Whall, and Algase. (2005). An Ontological View of Advanced Practice Nursing. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 19(4), 315+.

Association, a.N. (2010). Advanced Practice Nursing. Retrieved from Nursingworld.org: http://nursingworld.org/readroom/fsadvprc.htm

Bryabt-Lukosius, DiCenso, Browne, and Pinelli. (2004). Advanced Nursing Practice Roles:

Development, Implementation, and Ealuation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 48(5), 519-29.

Evans, Lang, and Medoff-Cooper. (2004). Integrating Research and Practice. In L. e. Evans, Academic Nursing Practices (pp. 183-204). New York: Springer.

McNeal and Walker. (2006). Enhancing Success in Advanced Practice Nursing. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 13(1), 10+.

Mezibov, D. (2002). Expanded Roles for Advanced Practice Nurses. Retrieved from American Association of Colleges of Nursing: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media/backgrounders/apnursng.htm