18 Oct Discuss the significance of national certification. How does being certified affect your scope of practice?

Why You Need to be Nationally Certified

Discuss the significance of national certification. How does being certified affect your scope of practice? What is the purpose of being certified? Can you practice without being certified? Discuss the similarities and differences of a FNP certification versus AGNP certification. Describe the process and required documents, applications, payment, and preparation for the exam.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 2 Discussion

 

Topic: Barriers to Access to Care

 

Discuss with your classmates the following:

 

Identify restrictions placed on APRN practice that set up barriers to access to care. Discuss with your classmates the next stage in policy development to overcome these barriers and increase patients’ access to APRNs.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 3 Discussion

 

Topic: Access to Primary Care for All?

 

To what extent is primary care accessible to all populations in this country?

 

Answer the following in your discussion:

 

What are the main barriers to accessing primary care?

 

What is being done to solve this problem?

 

What else can be done?

 

How are NPs making a difference?

 

What does the literature say about the NPs ability to provide primary care?

 

What does the literature report as comparisons between primary care provided by an NP versus a physician?

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 4 Discussion

 

Topic: Strategies for Transitioning to the NP Role

 

This week you will focus on identifying and sharing various strategies that can be used to assist you in your role transition from where you are to where you want to be as a NP. Please include at least three peer-reviewed reference (that is not older than 5 years) for each comment. Use this opportunity to brainstorm. There are no right or wrong strategies. Please refer to the SON Graduate Discussion grading rubric for more details.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 5 Discussion

 

Topic: Professional Social Networking

 

One of the best ways to keep informed about what is going on in your profession is social networking. Whether it is a blog or LinkedIn, there are numerous opportunities to make contact with your colleagues and keep informed of what opportunities are available. Discuss with your classmates various strategies for utilizing social media for your career enhancement.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 6 Discussion

 

Topic: Utilizing Evidence Practice Guidelines

 

One of the ways that the NP can manage risk of being successfully sued for malpractice or negligence is by utilizing evidence practice guidelines. Explain how these guidelines affect the “standard of care” and discuss with your classmates how utilizing this guideline can be a major strategy to significantly reduce risk to the provider.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 7 Discussion

 

Topic: Health Care Reform: Is it Beneficial to NPs?

 

Discuss and debate with your classmates your views on health care reform and how it will affect NPs. How will NPs be reimbursed under this plan? Include rationales for your assertions. Share any personal experience you may have with these issues.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 8 Discussion

 

Topic: NPI and DEA Numbers

 

Discuss the significance as well as the process of obtaining both a National Provider Identification (NPI) Number and a DEA Number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 9 Discussion

 

Topic: Joining the Ranks of a Profession

 

This week as you reach the end of this term and program, discuss with your classmates how you have moved closer to identifying yourself as an NP. Specifically, what are some ways that you can support this profession?

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 10 Discussion

 

Topic: Present and Future Opportunities

 

There are multiple opportunities for NPs today. Many NPs are now working as business owners or working as primary care providers as employees. Discuss with your classmates several current and future opportunities that you are aware of in your geographic area. Include in your discussion the requirements (i.e. years of experience), brief job description, and benefits if known.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 2 Assignment  

 

Differentiate the Major Regulatory Restrictions on NP Practice

 

Purpose

 

NPs have scopes of practice that are regulated by state laws, boards of nursing, boards of medicine and reimbursement that may differ depending on your location. There are several sources of restrictions to NP practice such as state laws and federal regulations which include who may prescribe controlled substances and which substances NPs can prescribe, as well as the various reimbursement agencies. It is essential that the NP be fully informed of what they are allowed to do by law (state and federal) or by other regulatory organizations. These regulations vary widely from state to state. Consequences of practicing outside your scope of practice may be anything from a fine, suspension or revocation of your license, civil lawsuit, or even criminal charges.

 

Use the provided template to compare and contrast the three major regulatory practice models for NPs: Supervisory, Collaborative, and Independent. Please keep this assignment in the template format provided. This Assignment requires credible and up to date resources for each category. Include in each model at least one state that represents the scope of practice you are discussing. For example, Texas requires a supervisory relationship with a physician along with a practice agreement, formulary, and protocols. In order to apply and receive a DEA license to prescribe controlled substances, you must be approved by the state you are practicing in to prescribe these medications.

 

Assignment Template

 

To view the Grading Rubric for this Assignment, please visit the Grading Rubrics section under Course Resources.

 

Assignment Requirements

 

Before finalizing your work, you should:

 

be sure to read the Assignment description carefully (as displayed above)

 

consult the Grading Rubric (under Course Resources) to make sure you have included everything necessary

 

utilize spelling and grammar check to minimize errors

 

Your writing Assignment should:

 

follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)

 

be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful

 

display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics

 

use APA 7th Edition format for organization, style, and crediting sources. Refer to the APA Progression Ladder.

 

How to Submit

 

Submit your Assignment to the unit Dropbox before midnight on the last day of the unit.

 

When you are ready to submit your Assignment, click the Dropbox tab and select this unit’s basket from the dropdown menu, then attach your file. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 5 Assignment  

 

Preparing a Strategic Career Plan

 

Graduation and certification are the beginning of your career as an NP. Whether you are looking for that dream job or you have decided to open your own practice as an independent NP, you need a plan to get there. Before the Web and social media, job hunting was relatively simple. Job hunters perused the classifieds, made cold calls, and many times just showed up with a resume in hand. There has been a dramatic change in the last decade in how people find and get jobs, and NPs are no exception. For those seeking employment now, there is a wealth of resources available from mega employment websites to specialty blogs. Finding a job as an NP may not be a big challenge, but landing the position that you have passionately prepared for and pursued is going to take some work. A well-crafted cover letter and resume may be necessary items, but it may not be enough to get you exactly where you want to be. With so many opportunities and career trajectories available to NPs today, you need to focus and get serious about what you want to do and where you want to do it.

 

In this Assignment, you will develop your own strategic career plan for starting your new career as an NP. There are many steps that need to be accomplished. Use the following guidelines to design your career plan. You do not need to include references. This is a plan that you may layout how you wish. Be creative, and really think about what you desire as a nurse practitioner. As everyone will have different goals, there are no right or wrong answers in this plan.

 

It is time to take inventory and ask yourself some questions. What is your career vision? Be specific and honest. Where do you want to work? What are your short term and long term goals (give timeline). What are the most important things you are looking for? Discuss your desires for salary, vacation, sick leave, CME allowance, medical benefits, retirement, etc. Perhaps you have a niche such as managing chronic diseases in patients over 65 years old.

 

Next, describe your ideal work situation. Is it a rural clinic or major trauma center? Who is your target patient population? Do you have a passion for a particular population or specialty? What schedule do you want? What are the priorities in your career right now? Where do you see your career in five years?

 

How do you plan on researching opportunities (whether looking for employment or independent practice site)? List several methods such as job fairs, the Web, and medical employment agencies.

 

Networking is essential for today’s healthcare provider. Discuss your networking ideas. What Internet resources might you use to network and connect with other healthcare providers?

 

How will you prepare for the interview? What specific steps will you take?

 

Imagine you are starting your own practice. What population will it serve? How will you market your practice? What personnel will you need to hire? How will you obtain funding? Will you be open extended hours to meet the needs of working patients? Will you be the sole provider, or will you hire other providers?

 

To view the Grading Rubric for this Assignment, please visit the Grading Rubrics section under Course Resources.

 

Assignment Requirements

 

Before finalizing your work, you should:

 

be sure to read the Assignment description carefully (as displayed above)

 

consult the Grading Rubric (under Course Resources) to make sure you have included everything necessary

 

utilize spelling and grammar check to minimize errors

 

Your writing Assignment should:

 

follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)

 

be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful

 

display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics

 

use APA 7th Edition format for organization, style, and crediting sources. Refer to the APA Progression Ladder.

 

How to Submit

 

Submit your Assignment to the unit Dropbox before midnight on the last day of the unit.

 

When you are ready to submit your Assignment, click the Dropbox tab and select this unit’s basket from the dropdown menu, then attach your file. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 8 Assignment  

 

Your First Job

 

Identify and provide the listing for a hypothetical professional job opportunity for which you would like to apply. You may copy and paste the listing directly from an employment site such as Indeed, Simply Hired, or other types of job boards. Discuss in detail why you think this job is within your scope of practice. In response, write a cover letter and enclose your professional resume. This is your opportunity to showcase your talents, so be sure give potential employers enough information to convince them you are the right candidate for the position. Submit to the unit Dropbox.

 

To view the Grading Rubric for this Assignment, please visit the Grading Rubrics section under Course Resources.

 

Assignment Requirements

 

Before finalizing your work, you should:

 

Attend the seminar on My First Job presentation. If unable to attend, view the archived version.

 

be sure to read the Assignment description carefully (as displayed above)

 

consult the Grading Rubric (under Course Resources) to make sure you have included everything necessary

 

utilize spelling and grammar check to minimize errors

 

Your writing Assignment should:

 

follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)

 

be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful

 

display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics

 

use APA 7th Edition format for organization, style, and crediting sources. Refer to the APA Progression Ladder.

 

How to Submit

 

Submit your Assignment to the unit Dropbox before midnight on the last day of the unit.

 

When you are ready to submit your Assignment, click the Dropbox tab and select this unit’s basket from the dropdown menu, then attach your file. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.

 

 

 

MN605 Transition to Practice

 

Unit 9 Assignment  

 

Professional Advocacy through Association Membership

 

Professional advocacy is about supporting the interests of one’s profession. Professional associations advocate for their members by uniting as a single voice and taking action to advance or remove barriers to the profession. Nurse practitioners (NPs) unite in member-created associations and organizations at many different levels: local, state, national, and international. They unite as specialty groups to further the goals or interests of their profession. Each of these organizations has a purpose or mission, membership benefits, and role in professional advocacy. While individually the NP may be able to contact a legislator on an issue of concern, a professional organization has the collective power of being able to be heard in numbers. These organizations are poised to take the course of action needed to influence the stakeholders. Just as these groups take action to make change, individual NPs must take action to promote their own professional interests and causes. One of the best ways a professional can support their profession is by joining an association or organization.

 

In a 3–5 page paper address the following:

 

Join a NP association at the local, state, national or international level. (join as a student)

 

Discuss the mission and vision of this organization.

 

Describe the requirements for membership.

 

Explain at least five benefits to belonging to this organization.

 

Demonstrate understanding of the advocacy efforts of this organization by answering the following:

 

What are the current key issues of concern (name at least three)?

 

What actions are being taken by this organization to address these concerns?

 

What current legislative efforts are being done by this organization in one of the following areas:

 

expanding the NP scope of practice

 

NP regulation of practice

 

Healthcare policy

 

Payment issues

 

Prescriptive privileges

 

Reflect on how your membership to this organization can promote the NP profession.

 

To view the Grading Rubric for this Assignment, please visit the Grading Rubrics section under Course Resources.

 

Assignment Requirements

 

Before finalizing your work, you should:

 

be sure to read the Assignment description carefully (as displayed above)

 

consult the Grading Rubric (under Course Resources) to make sure you have included everything necessary

 

utilize spelling and grammar check to minimize errors

 

Your writing Assignment should:

 

follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)

 

be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful

 

display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics

 

use APA 7th Edition format for organization, style, and crediting sources. Refer to the APA Progression Ladder.

 

How to Submit

 

Submit your Assignment to the unit Dropbox before midnight on the last day of the unit.

 

When you are ready to submit your Assignment, click the Dropbox tab and select this unit’s basket from the dropdown menu, then attach your file. Make sure to save a copy of your work and be sure to confirm that your file uploaded correctly.