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From Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal

20th Century Nurse Practitioners: Enduring Success

Posted 08/31/2004
Perhaps we should prepare NP students for retrieving information and applying their knowledge rather than overloading them with everything they need to know?

Ann L. O'Sullivan, PhD, CRNP, CPNP, FAAN


Role of the Nurse Practitioner

It is an exciting yet challenging time in nurse practitioner (NP) education. The present and future hold expanded opportunities for the NP, and educational programs must prepare graduates for these roles. Although faculty continually assess how to adapt educational programs, we should look at new models and new strategies that best fit for preparing the NP of today and tomorrow.

In April 2004, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) marked 30 years that NP educators have been meeting to discuss curriculum and innovations for educational programs. Faculty from the first meeting reminisced on the issues driving the development of NP programs and the development of curriculum standards. Other early NP pioneers also joined the discussion of the challenges educators faced within nursing and higher education to advance nursing practice to a level needed in the healthcare system. The challenges were significant. The perseverance of the dedicated few in those early days began the NP movement that ensured the availability of educational programs to prepare highly qualified health professionals to meet societal needs.

The NP role has evolved significantly since those early meetings. Today, the curriculum discussions reflect the increased recognition and acceptance of the NP within the healthcare system. The NP is in demand to fulfill a multiplicity of roles, across a wide range of practice settings (chronic, acute, and primary care) and within new models of provider teams (intra- and interdisciplinary). The market seeks graduates with broad knowledge, an expansive skill base, and critical thinking skills who can fill role expectations. Health analysts predict increased use of NPs as clinicians, team and system leaders, and health promoters.[1]


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