The Nurse Practitioner Role Case Study

The Nurse Practitioner Role: A Journey to Self-Actualization

The history and evolution of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) role, particularly the Nurse Practitioner (NP), can easily be compared to the process of self-actualization. According to Webster’s dictionary (2015), to self-actualize means “to fully realize one’s potential.” Through the collaboration of many great minds and the practice of holism as the best approach for providing healthcare, the role of the APRN arose. Nursing leaders and advocates such as Thelma Ingles and Loretta Ford knew the potential and remarkable impact the APRN would have on the healthcare system and had the motivation and vision to set it in motion. The role of the NP emerged out of necessity and advanced educationally and clinically as the scope of practice expanded over the latter half

The APRN is not limited to a specific setting, rather a defined scope of practice known as the Nurse Practice Act. Each state has a Nurse Practice Act and strict adherence is required and expected. As the APRN role continues to expand within the United States, credentialing agencies are exploring the importance of the APRN to be doctoral prepared by obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a PhD (Joel, 2013). According to Joel (2013), a doctoral prepared APRN’s status would rank equally to other healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, physical therapists and medical doctors. There are many factors that will continue to be considered when determining this mandate. Factors such as enrollment trends, costs, and a limited amount of APRN providers that would result in decreased access to healthcare. There is much debate regarding this possible mandate due to the high demand for healthcare and the high shortage of providers, especially in rural areas of the United States (Joel,