The journey from nurse to advanced nurse practitioner: applying concepts of role transitioning

Abstract

The advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) role was established in Ireland in 2001 and represents an important nursing role development within Irish healthcare. Currently there are 336 ANPs registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, working across 40 specialties. This number is increasing exponentially in response to emerging and anticipated future service needs and population demand projecting to a critical mass of 750 by 2021. Health service provision is enhanced by advanced practice performance outcomes. This article explores nurse to advanced nurse practitioner transitional journeys, a concept that has not previously been researched in depth from an Irish perspective. The theories of Benner, Woods, and Bourdieu are reviewed to explore whether an advance practice career trajectory results in unique nurse-to-ANP role transitioning. Contextualising possible personal, professional and educational transitions may enable the promotion of effective career ‘scaffolding’ to enhance a smooth transition for aspiring ANPs into advanced nursing practice roles.

Promoción De Transiciones De Rol Exitosas De Enfermero a Enfermero De Práctica Avanzada

“…Un modelo de preceptoría entre el EPA especialista experimentado y el EPA estudiante que permita el contacto frecuente, la evaluación y el refuerzo positivo puede actuar como marco protector contra posibles sentimientos de aislamiento, mejorar el progreso profesional y generar confianza. Para mejorar el progreso profesional y desarrollar un sentido de unidad, la creación de redes puede promover el 3/8 apoyo entre colegas, desarrollar un sentido de unidad y habilitar canales efectivos para impulsar la comunicación 11 . Capacitar y adecuar los horarios de los preceptores para permitir que el aprendizaje tenga lugar en el programa puede proporcionar a los estudiantes de EPA el apoyo que necesitan para aumentar la autonomía en sus habilidades en la toma de decisiones clínicas 9 .…”

“…El conocimiento de las etapas por las que atraviesan los EPAs recién recibidos durante su primer año de práctica profesional y los posibles factores de estrés a los que se enfrentan esbozan una idea de la magnitud del problema 7,[25][26] . La comprensión de las transiciones de roles del EPA se puede utilizar para avanzar en el desarrollo de 'bases de apoyo', como redes de tutoría y soporte, con el objetivo de garantizar una transición sin problemas de enfermero a EPA 11 . La suposición es que una mejor conciencia del proceso de transición conducirá a una mayor comprensión y un período de adaptación más corto 5,7,19 .…”

Facilitating Successful Role Transitions From Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner

“…A preceptorship model between an experienced expert NP and a student NP that enables frequent contact, evaluations and positive reinforcement, may protect against possible feelings of isolation, enhance professional advancement and build confidence. In order to enhance professional advancement and develop a sense of unity, networking can promote collegial support, develop a sense of unity and enable effective communication channels to boost communication 11 . Training and adjusting preceptors' schedules to allow learning to take place when in the program may provide NP students with the support necessary for them to increase autonomy in their clinical decision making skills 9 .…”

“…An awareness of the stages that the typical novice NPs go through during the initial year of practice and the potential stressors they face may provide insight into the magnitude of the problem 7,[25][26] . Understanding NPs' role transitions could be used to feed-forward the development of 'support scaffolding' such as mentoring and support networks, aiming to enhance smooth passage from RN to NP 11 . The assumption is that a better awareness of the transitional process will lead to greater understanding and a shorter adjustment period 5,7,19 .…”

From the community handywomen to frontline heroes: Charting a century of Irish nursing and midwifery regulation

“…This evolution is likely to be with regards to scope of practice, but also with regards to areas of specialism and to academic routes of entry and progression. This is already to be seen within the wider sociocultural frame from the exponential growth in registered advance nurse/midwife practitioners since establishment in 2001 (Kerr & MacAskill, 2020), and through the Department of Health's 2019 policy document (Department of Health, 2019).…”