Need to interview an APRN

allnurses Guide · Jan 21, 2015

I am sure there are lots of folks here who would be willing to help.

Honestly, you are much better off finding a local NP through your contacts or your state NP association for this reason. These assignments help create a mentoring and networking contact as you begin your preparation as an NP.

Sent from my iPhone.

vascular-RN · Jan 21, 2015

I agree that the reason for assignments of this nature are to encourage students to network. The Arkansas Nurse Practitioners Association is very new (just began accepting memberships this month). I am a student member and plan to be involved in any way that I can. Although, the first part of this assignment is due fairly quickly and I am afraid I will not get a volunteer locally quick enough. Unfortunately for me, I work in a very small surgery office and do not have any professional contacts with APRN's currently. There are not many APRN's associated with this hospital even.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 21, 2015

I'm a CNS in an APRN role. If you want to post your questions here, I'll take a stab at them.

vascular-RN · Jan 22, 2015

Part of the assignment is to interview an APRN about his/her transition from RN to APRN and what stage of role development he/she feel they are in. (orientation, frustration,implementation, Integration, frozen, reorganization, and complacent. These are very similar to Patricia Benner's novice to expert phases). I will attach the descriptions of these phases in a separate post.

Some of the additional questions that I would like to ask are:

1. How long were you an RN before becoming an APRN? How do you feel this helped/hindered you early in practice?

2. What was the most difficult and easiest aspect of this role transition?

3. What type of nursing were you in prior to becoming an APRN? How did this prepare you to transition to an APRN role?

4. What were some of the shocking/surprising misconceptions you held about APRN practice?

vascular-RN · Jan 22, 2015

Orientation phase is characterized by enthusiasm, optimism, and eager to meet expectations. In this phase the APRN is establishing a power base and developing relationships with peers. Also, identifying and relying on a professional mentor is important.

Frustration phase is when expectations of practice become more realistic and discouragement is common due to previously unrealistic expectations. The APRN may feel inadequate or overwhelmed.

Implementation is characterized by a return of enthusiasm and optimism. A complete transition to advanced practice is noticed. The APRN at this phase begins building coalitions and networks.

Integration phase is characterized by self confidence, satisfaction with position, and continued evolution of advanced practice. At this phase APRN's begin to share their expertise and experience with others.

Frozen phase is characterized by continued self confidence and the APRN begins to consider themselves as an intermediate or advanced level APRN. During this phase the APRN feels as though their role is being restricted by a supervisor or organization.

Reorganization phase is characterized by major changes or pressure to change.

Complacent phase is characterized by varying satisfaction with the role. The APRN feels comfortable and settled and is providing a questionable impact on organization.

Descriptions were established from Table 4-4 in:

Hamric, A. B., Hanson, C. M., Tracy, M. F., & O'Grady, E. T. (2014). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 22, 2015

Okay - let me see what I can do:

1. How long were you an RN before becoming an APRN? I was an LPN for 2 years and RN for 12 years prior to becoming an APRN in 2006

How do you feel this helped/hindered you early in practice? My RN experience was 2 years adult ICU, 10 years level one trauma center ER and my LPN exp was 1 year NH and 1 year PICU. I felt the experience helped me tremendously. The main reason I was hired into this large nephrology practice, without nephrology experience, was due to my assessment skills and ability to tell sick from not sick.

2. What was the most difficult and easiest aspect of this role transition? Most difficult was learning what each of the 19 doctors wanted from me as each runs their practice a little differently. There was a huge learning curve to when dealing with dialysis pts. The easiest was adjusting to day shift (I had always worked nights).

3. What type of nursing were you in prior to becoming an APRN? How did this prepare you to transition to an APRN role? see #1

4. What were some of the shocking/surprising misconceptions you held about APRN practice? The sheer responsibility of caring for the pt and making decisions. I am very autonomous and go days or sometimes weeks without talking with a doctor. It took me about 2-3 years before I felt comfortable and about 5 years before I felt "really" comfortable. And...I'm still learning new things.