Np Role Transition

As we transition into the new role of NPs, our scope of practice expands. Moreover, as our responsibilities increase, we later become policy makers, and develop autonomy and decision–making skills. NPs are responsible for providing safe nursing care with more specialized knowledge and advanced education. We are also responsible for pursuing continuing education and advanced knowledge to remain competent quality providers, and meet the needs of the community. With our acquired repertoire of skills, it is essential that we utilize them to make informed decisions and collaborate with our community to promote wellness and healthy living. As advanced practice nurses (APN), we work to deliver and provide family-focused, culturally competent, and

350). Due to the increase in accountability of FNPs to provide safe, quality, and cost-effective health care, it is imperative that the nurse is fully prepared for practice as a nurse practitioner (NP). The outcome of the NP’s role transition can be inhibited or promoted by different transition conditions, such as the environment, availability of resources, support, and nursing experience. All of which fall into the lines of Meleis’s types of transition, making the process complex and multidimensional (Meleis, et al., 2000, p. 18). The role of nurse practitioners has extended in practice to provide comprehensive care. However, as the nurse transitions he or she must adapt to new ways of thinking, and change behavior patterns to facilitate the transition (Meleis, 2010, p. 431). The nurse must work collaboratively with physicians to solve patient problems and care for the patient effectively due to the rise in complex patient

Meleis and Schumacher (1994) stated that “nurse-client encounters often occurs during transitional periods of instability precipitated by developmental, situational, or health illness change” (p. 119) which may alter the lifestyle of individuals and their family members (p. 119). Therefore, with NPs being the front line providers in support of holistic and family–centered care, they are significant in meeting the needs of such a vulnerable population. To address this issue, Meleis has published a framework that addresses role insufficiency and role supplementation. Role insufficiency is self defined and perceived as the inability to adequately perform one’s role (Meleis, 2010, p.16). It may entail, “anxiety, depression, apathy, frustrations, grief, powerlessness, unhappiness, and/or aggression, and hostility” (Meleis, 2010, p.17). Role supplementation is defined when role insufficiency is identified. It is comprised of role clarification and role taking which may be preventative and therapeutic (Meleis, 2010, p. 17). Therefore, as sole providers it is imperative for professional nurses to understand the behavior of clients to diagnose and intervene appropriately (Meleis, 2010, p.