Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
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J Am Acad Nurse Pract · Dec 2012
The consensus model for regulation of APRNs: Implications for nurse practitioners.
Purpose: To examine the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation as a proposed solution to simplify and unify regulation of advanced nursing practice with respect to licensure, certification, accreditation, and educational standards. Data sources: Policy statements and reports issued by national organizations of nursing professionals and discussion within the scholarly literature provided an overview of regulatory differences among the 50 U. S. states, their impacts on advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) practice, and discussion of the Consensus Model as a potential solution. ⋯ Diverse regulatory criteria, such as variable accreditation standards, disparate certification and licensing requirements, inconsistent population foci, and scopes of practice, represent barriers to optimized APRN function within today's complex healthcare system and, ultimately, reduced access to safe, quality care for patients. Implications for practice: The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation promises to unify APRN education, practice, and licensure, promoting greater mobility among nursing professionals. Elimination of inconsistencies in APRN licensure, education, certification, and accreditation requirements will promote greater value and mobility for the APRN within the healthcare system.
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J Am Acad Nurse Pract · Nov 2012
Coping behaviors used by Army wives during deployment separation and their perceived effectiveness.
The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to describe the coping behaviors used by Army wives during deployment separation, the perceived effectiveness of the coping behaviors used, and the correlation between the two variables. ⋯ Identifying effective and ineffective coping behaviors of spouses of deployed troops can potentially reduce stress and improve well-being. Primary care providers should encourage military spouses to engage in optimistic thinking, seek out spiritual support, talk to others in a similar situation, and participate in physical activity.
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Consults promote additional perspectives and help with complex patient management. As the population ages and healthcare demands increase, providers are consulting palliative care (PC). Nurse practitioners (NPs) should understand when to consult PC. ⋯ Many professional organizations are incorporating PC into their specialties and guidelines. In addition to incorporating PC at diagnosis, PC access needs to be improved. New and experienced NPs may appreciate collaborating with PC specialists. Such conversations and relationships will likely offer practical and supportive guidance to both patients and NPs. Overall, the future for PC is promising.
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J Am Acad Nurse Pract · Nov 2012
Factors predicting older adults' use of exercise and acetaminophen for osteoarthritis pain.
To identify predictors of older adults' use of exercise and/or acetaminophen, and avoidance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat their osteoarthritis pain. ⋯ Results underscore the importance of guidance by practitioners who are knowledgeable about safe osteoarthritis pain management for older adults.
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J Am Acad Nurse Pract · Jul 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialIdentifying the barriers to use of standardized nursing language in the electronic health record by the ambulatory care nurse practitioner.
This study identified the perceived user barriers to documentation of nursing practice utilizing standardized nursing language (SNL) in the electronic health record (EHR) by ambulatory care nurse practitioners (NPs). ⋯ Respondents identified NP practice as a blend of medical as well as nursing care but NPs have not embraced the current SNLs as a vehicle to document the nursing component of their care, particularly in EHRs. Until these barriers are addressed and discreet data in the form of SNL are available and utilized in the EHR, the impact of the NPs care will be unidentifiable for outcomes reporting.