Enhancing the quality of patient care through development and utilization of the nurse practitioner role appropriately

Title : Enhancing the quality of patient care through development and utilization of the nurse practitioner role appropriately

Abstract:

Nurse Practitioners are an important component of the healthcare arena in providing high quality, patient centered health care to the broadest possible range of consumers.  The nurse practitioner scope of practice, the required education, and credentialing vary worldwide.  The role continues to develop and evolve which may lead to confusion and dissatisfaction with employment for Nurse Practitioners as the role is not clearly defined.  I will discuss the basic role of the nurse practitioner using literature that clearly outlines the role with variations in practice settings.  The barriers that prevent the nurse practitioner to practice to the fullest of their scope and/or license will be discussed.  Included in the barriers are a definitive scope of practice, legislative constraints, physician related issues amongst others.  I will discuss potential strategic methods to overcome these barriers.  Needed is a model of intra professional collaboration, involvement in government, and organizations that oversee the role.   Examples of frameworks discussed in the literature will be brought forth during the presentation to assist the nurse practitioner in defining their role within their practice setting.  In order to better deal with certain aspects of conflict encompassed in development of the role I will discuss the use of Emotional Intelligence during this process.  I will identify the common similarities in the literature that address the development of the role worldwide.

Biography:

She became a nurse in 1979. In 1993, after various other positions, she was the first Radiology Nurse in a community hospital. In 2000 she obtained an MSN in Nursing Management from the University of Hartford and then received in 2003 an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Connecticut. She initially developed the radiology nursing role and then the nurse practitioner role in this community setting. She graduated with a DNP in Leadership from Quinnipiac University in 2017. Presently she is developing and implementing the nurse practitioner role in other local hospitals now part of the organization. She has presented on numerous occasions successfully, served on many hospital committees, and served as President of ARIN.