Advanced practice nursing encompasses nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetics. All of them provide primary health care services and are always at the front in the provision of preventative health care for public patients. For this paper, I will engage the Clinical Nurse Specialists who are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The nurses specialize in three areas namely patients, nurse management, and administration.
My gist of getting credible and firsthand information about the life of a Clinical Nurse Specialists, I conducted an exclusive interview with Joe Doe, who is the Clinical Nurse Specialist at Life Care Hospital. Joe Doe had worked in different capacities in many hospitals before settling in this hospital as the CNS. From the interview, this paper will ascertain that all the nurses, after qualifying for the position academically, are restrained to meet different competence areas. The compe
...tencies take into consideration health care service delivery about scientific relations, leadership, quality, practice inquiry, technology and information, policies, health delivery systems, ethics, and independent practice
There are Nine Distinct Practitioner Core Competencies in the Field of Nursing:
Scientific Foundation Competencies
A nurse has to have competence in critical analysis of data and evidence for the purpose of advancing the nursing practice. Similarly, a competent nurse has to integrate the knowledge acquired from humanities and sciences within the nursing field (Thomas et al., 2011). On top of that, competence in nursing calls for the translation of research and general knowledge in improving the nursing practice concerning processes applied and outcomes achieved. Lastly, a competent nurse has to develop new approaches to the nursing practice based on the collective integration of theory, research and practic
knowledge.
Leadership Competencies
A competent nurse will assume both advanced and complex roles that are aimed at initiating and guiding changes in leadership. Moreover, such a nurse will provide leadership to show collaboration of different parties that are involved in healthcare improvement. Similarly, being a competent nurse will call, for the demonstration of leadership that employs both reflective and critical thinking while advocating for excellent access to healthcare that is not only of high quality but also affordable (Thomas et al., 2011). Being competent in the nursing science will also call for the advancement of the practice through development and implementation of innovative principles of change. Lastly, a nurse has to communicate fluently in writing and through word of mouth.
Quality Competencies
Under this category, a competent nurse has to improve the clinical practice experience continuously by using the best and possible evidence. It is the role of a competent nurse to evaluate the existing relationship among costs, quality, access and safety of their influence before employing the skills in peer scrutiny to enhance excellence (Thomas et al., 2011). Still on the same, a nurse has always to wait for practice variations and be proactive in ensuring quality is preserved amid the interventions.
Practice Inquiry Competencies
Involves translating new ideas into real practice through leadership and the generation of clinical practice knowledge with the aim of improving both patient and practice results (Dreher & Glasgow, 2011). A nurse is required to apply investigative skills applicable in clinic practice in promoting health outcomes and lead inquiries concerning the practice before disseminating revealed evidence to the concerned parties.
Technology and Information Literacy Competencies
A competent nurse can use relevant technologies in managing healthcare knowledge by
translating both scientific and technical health records (Thomas et al., 2011). Information literacy in decision making makes a competent nurse to contribute in clinical information systems designing to promote safety and quality of healthcare.
Policy Competencies
These revolve around understanding the policies applicable in the nursing practice. A competent nurse has to call for policies that exhibit ethics and legal contribution in healthcare. Moreover, the policies have to be analyzed to validate their implications in healthcare (Thomas et al., 2011). Lastly, a nurse has to evaluate globalization implications in policy development within the field of health care.
Health Delivery System Competencies
A competent nurse, under this provision, has to apply the knowledge practiced in organizations and complex systems in the improvement of delivering health care. It is mandatory that a good nurse effects changes in health care by using skills to minimize patient risks (Thomas et al., 2011). On top of that, a nurse has to contribute towards health care development by addressing population needs and those of other stakeholders. Similarly, a nurse has to evaluate the impact of patients receiving services before analyzing the functions, structure, and resources of the organization.
Ethics Competencies
Ethics call for nurses to integrate ethical principles when making decisions then go on to evaluate the implications of the same (Thomas, 2013). A good nurse is further required to put into practice the ethical solutions applicable to issues that are complex within the health care field.
Independent Practice Competencies
This is the provision that a nurse has to carry out health care functions after being licensed. Under this competence area, a nurse has to demonstrate high levels of professional accountability. The care extended to patients has to be
considerate of the cultural diversification before decision making.
Interviewee
In attempts to get firsthand information about the career of a Clinical Nurse Specialists, I conducted an exclusive interview with Joe Doe, who is the Clinical Nurse Specialist at Life Care Hospital. Joe Doe had worked in different capacities in many hospitals before settling in this hospital as the CNS.
The Interview
Me: Briefly describe yourself giving an insight to your professional experience and background.
Doe: My name is Joe Doe, the CNS at Life Care Hospital. Firstly, being a CNS is more of a vocation than just a career. You have to like the job first before even thinking of credentials. However, the career part of this job calls for a Master’s degree in Nursing. Secondly, you have to possess all the required personal qualifications like registration with the national nursing board. Thirdly, you have to be well informed of the activities carried out in healthcare facilities. My experience in this field is of more than five years now.
Me: Thank you. What is it like to be a CNS?
Doe: Okay. Being a CNS is a rewarding opportunity. You get to deal with different people, and the issue of cultural diversity comes in. You interact with all kind of people in an environment that aims at fostering their health back to normal.
Me: Alright. What are the qualifications of becoming a CNS?
Doe: As I said earlier, academic qualifications are mandatory. However, there are other nursing competencies a nurse has to meet to be well equipped for the task ahead.
Me: Great! So what are these competences? Could you explain five of them to me, please?
Doe: Alright. First of all, let me start with
quality competences, which requires the nurses to use, evaluate and apply skills acquired in care processes to identify the effects of different aspects of health care in patient engagement. Second, let me dwell on leadership competences that require a nurse to assume the complex leadership roles in driving patient care to the best level. Thirdly, there are the scientific foundation competences that need a nurse to analyze data in a critical manner to come up with evidence that adds knowledge to the entire nursing science. Fourth are the technology and information literacy competencies, which call for a nurse to integrate the most appropriate technologies for health care improvement. Lastly, there are policy skills that require a nurse to demonstrate a critical understanding of the existing relation between the nursing practice and the policies around the field.
Me: Thank you, Joe Doe. It was my pleasure to meet you.
Doe: You are most welcome.
Discussion
From my interview with Joe Doe, it came out clearly that Nursing is a complex profession that requires academic prowess and adherence to well laid down competence requirements. After academic qualification, a nurse has to show coherence with some defined competencies to fit well in the science profession. Quality competences require the nurses to use, evaluate and apply skills acquired in care processes to identify the effects of different aspects of health care in patient engagement. Leadership competences require a nurse to assume the complex leadership roles in driving patient care to the best level. Scientific foundation competences need a nurse to analyze data in a critical manner to come up with evidence that adds knowledge to the entire nursing science. Technology and information literacy
competencies call for a nurse to integrate the most appropriate technologies for health care improvement. Lastly, policy competencies require a nurse to demonstrate the critical understanding of the existing relation between the nursing practice and the policies around the field.
Conclusion
After a fact-finding interview with a well-established CNS, it came out clearly that nursing is a complex field of specialization that requires both commitment and academic prowess. The qualifications for a CNS are high due to the roles attached to it. All the nurses, after qualifying for the position academically, are restrained to meet different competence areas. The competences take into consideration health care service delivery about scientific relations, leadership, quality, practice inquiry, technology and information, policies, health delivery systems, ethics and independent practice. The different competencies are the backbone of the nursing career.
References
- Thomas, A., Crabtree, M., Delaney, K., Dumas, M., Kleinpell, R., & Logsdon, M. et al. (2011). NONPF - 1 NURSE PRACTITIONER CORE COMPETENCIES (1st ed.). The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
- Thomas, A. (2013). POPULATION - FOCUSED NURSE PRACTITIONER COMPETENCIES. Retrieved 11 March 2016, from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/geriatric-nursing/adultgeroprimcareNPcomp.pdf
- Dreher, H., & Glasgow, M. (2011). Role development for doctoral advanced nursing practice. New York: Springer Pub. Co.
