need to interview an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN),or a student in gradua

kiser56 · Jan 29, 2009

April,

Hello, how are you? I am a graduate student at UVA and will finish in May. I am currently doing clinicals. Would you like my help?

Thanks

cape3 · Jan 29, 2009

Yes please! I have to post my interview tonight. If you wouldn't mind answering my questions in the orig. post.

Thanks!

April

kiser56 · Jan 29, 2009

Alright, although this may be more zoned for practicing APRN's, I can give you ideas of the APRN's that I have worked with during my preceptorship to see how they feel.

(1) job responsibilities

-the np's in my preceptorships have been virtually in the same role as the physician. Living in SWVA, there is a shortage of family practitioners in general. These NP's also have collaborating physicians within his/her health system which they agree on certain terms with the patients that they see. These NP's see patients suffering from chronic conditions (such as heart disease, DM, osteoporosis, and thyroid dysfunction) as well as acute visits which include but are not limited to pharyngitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and some minor trauma. Job responsibilities include all aspects in the management of care including obtaining history of present illness to objective assessment, to diagnosis, to management of illness. This also includes interpretation of labs and diagnostics and communicating those to the patients and deciding how to act on the results (treat, referral, etc)

(2) leadership in professional organizations,

I find this to be particularly important although I have only communicated with the leadership within these organizations. I am a part of the American Nurses Association, The Virginia Nurses Association, and The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. I feel like these organization provide one singular and strong voice for nurses in general as a profession. I think it is also important to add that one should try to become a member in the strongest most central organizations first as opposed to smaller more specialized organization. As nurses, one of the hardest struggles we have is to overcome the public's perception of our role. Being a part of these organizations helps us to be able to do that much in the same way that the AMA (American Medical Association) does.

(3) continuing education

One of the perks of continuing education is that you mostly get to choose what type of seminars that you want to go to. Many of these are in places that are also fun to vacation at (e.g. Miami, FL, Las Vegas, NV). Also, you can guide your practice interests by strengthening your strengths or weaknesses when choosing how to earn your yearly CE credits. Both organizations (AANP & ANCC) both require a certain number of CE's per year and also if you have any further certifications, they will also require you to receive certain number of CE's a year to stay certified.

(4) issues that she/he faces in practice.

I think many of the issues that we face focus on the NP being not recognized as a valid health care provider perhaps less of a member of a member of the interdisciplinary medical team. This is often because we are somewhere between nursing and medical when we reach this stage and both members of either side do not believe we belong at times. I think that if we continue to define our roles and be examples of excellent alternatives to healthcare both our professional colleagues and the public will change their initial perception of us.

I hope that helps you to get the answers that you would like. Like I said, I am not a practicing APRN at this time, but feel like I am starting to ease into that role the further I get to graduation. If this is not sufficient, then just use it as food for thought. Have a nice day.