week 4 paper[701].docx - Running Head APN PROFESSIONAL...

Running Head: APN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1
Advanced Practice Nursing Professional Development Plan
Candice L. Hamre
Chamberlain University
September 26, 2019

APN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2
An advanced practice nurse follows a different set of rules and guidelines when it
comes to patient practice. An advanced practice nurse has an obligatory responsibility
to practice and follow their aligned Nursing Practice Act, which includes their scope of
practice. Every state has a different binding Nursing Practice Act. Currently residing in
Arizona and planning to practice as an advanced practice nurse in the state of Arizona,
the following content includes information regarding Arizona’s Nursing Practice Act.
Along with scope of practice, and nursing practice act, Nurse Practitioner’s also have
core competencies to guide them throughout their years of practice. Becoming an
advanced practice nurse also creates a sense of leadership, and because of this, other
nurse’s, advanced practice or not will look up to Nurse Practitioners. Being a leader as
an advanced practice nurse can influence many nurses in the profession. “It is said that
the FNP role needs support through leadership and advocacy at local, national, and
international levels” (Estes, Medina, & Robertson, 2019). Leadership styles vary with
each provider, which can then be connected to one’s personality, that pours over into
their practice, and how they treat their patients. These differences in leaders will also be
discussed further in the following text.
APN Scope of Practice
The advanced practicing nurse has a special set of skills, depending on their
specialty tract. This can at times confuse and blur the line of scope of practice for some
practitioners. Scope of practice entails what a practitioner or health professional can do,
while still being covered by their own governing body. The workforce for Nurse
Practitioners is growing, more rapidly than any other provider is. Due to the increased
need for practitioners, and the higher acuity that patients are presenting with, Nurse

APN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 3
Practitioner programs are being established all over to provide this education to a group
in need. “Given this shift, it is increasingly important to understand how state- level NP
scope of practice (SOP) policies influence access to primary care” (Mark, & Patel,
2019). The education opportunities to nurses is beyond any other degree holders. There
are a multitude of tracks one can take, as well as specialties. It also appears to be the
most flexible, providing a great deal of courses online. I myself am completing a partially
online program, and with working full time, and having a family, it makes it manageable.