MN605
Transition to Practice
Unit 1
discussion
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
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
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
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 one
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Directions
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, Florida 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 6th 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.
Directions
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 6th 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
Directions
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 6th 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.
Directions
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 6th 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.
Unit 1 Quiz
Question 1 Certification is necessary to apply for (mark all
that apply):
Question options:
A DEA License
To get reimbursement
To prescribe medications
To provide health care services
Question 2 The most recognized credentialing centers for
nurses are (mark all that apply):
Question options:
ACC
AANP
AMA
ANCC
Question 3 The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation includes
(mark all that apply):
Question options:
Licensure
Accreditation
Certification
Education
Question 4 Once you become credentialed you do not have to
renew your credentials for:
Question options:
ten years
Three years
Five years
One year
Question 5 The AANP is a National Certification Program that
certifies (mark all that apply):
Question options:
School Nurses
Family Nurse Practitioners
Health educators
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
Unit 4 Quiz
Question 1 The APRN Consensus Model States that scope of
practice is not a setting specific but based on patient care needs. True or
False:
Question options:
True
False
Question 2 PCNP (Primary care Nurse Practitioner) does not
have educational preparation to care for the complex acute or critical care
patient but does have preparation to manage the simple acute patient? True or
False:
Question options:
True
False
Question 3 LACE
stands for:
Question options:
Licensure, Action, Certification, Exam
Licensure, Accreditation, Curriculum, Education
Licensure, Accreditation, Credentialing, Education
Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, Education
Question 4 The regulation of Acute and Primary care scope of
practice is based on the following criteria (mark all that apply):
Question options:
Setting
Education
Experience
Certification
Question 5 Primary Care and Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
can work in specialized areas of choice and do not require any additional
education or certification. True or False:
Question options:
True
False
Unit 6 Quiz
Question 1
Currently in the U.S., medical treatments that result in
injury or death is a:
Question options:
Major cause of morbidity
Major cause of mortality
Major cause of morbidity and mortality
Major cause of morbidity, mortality, and malpractice claims
Question 2
Risk management is about analyzing the act of the individual
provider versus the system the provider works in.
Question options:
True
False
Question 3
Medication errors that occur during prescribing,
administering, or dispensing are one of the leading causes of malpractice
claims against Nurse Practitioners (NP).
Question options:
True
False
Question 4
Today, the trend of malpractice suits against NPs in the
U.S. are (select all that apply)
Question options:
Decreasing in number
Increasing in number
Unchanged from previous two decades
Increasing in severity
Question 5
When courts are determining reasonable practice of a prudent
NP, they consider :
Question options:
Testimony of expert witnesses
Local and national standards of care
All of the above
None of the above
Question 6
For the NP, scope of practice , as issued by state boards or
national professional standards, serve to:
set limitations of what the NP can do and not do.
Question options:
True
False
Question 7
Under Tort law, causation refers to:
Question options:
The established duty of the provider to treat the patient
The direct result of the NP's act or omission of an act that
results in injury or death
The breach of duty
Damages that incurred
Question 8
For someone to claim malpractice the following need to have
occurred except:
Question options:
Duty
Breach of Duty
Financial loss
Damages
Causation
Question 9
When determining deviation from standard of care, all of the
following is considered except:
Question options:
Physician preferences
Protocols
Policies
Evidence based practice guidelines
Question 10
A successful malpractice claim against an NP is highly
unlikely if (check all that apply) the NP:
Question options:
Followed current evidenced practice guidelines
Practiced within scope of practice
Documented appropriately
Assessed patient in a competent manner
Referred when medically needed
Question 11
A major source of severe penalties of malpractice claims
against NPs are all except:
Question options:
Failure to refer when appropriate
Failure to accurately diagnose
Failure to properly assess
Failure to keep up current continuing education
Question 12
Daily patient workload may increase the risk of a
malpractice claim.
Question options:
True
False
Question 13
Following clinical practice guidelines is one of the best
ways to avoid malpractice litigation.
Question options:
True
False
Question 14
When a plaintiff proves a malpractice claim in court, the
penalties for the defendant are always:
Question options:
Fines and possible jail time
Monetary damages
A combination of monetary damages and fines
A combination of monetary damages and license suspension or
revocation
Question 15
Punitive damages are awarded when it is proven that the
gross malpractice is caused by the defendant. The amount of punitive damages is
based upon the jury recommendations and jurisdictional limits.
Question options:
True
False
Unit 7 Quiz
Question 1
When determining your worth of services based on practice charges per patient
visit and your anticipated patient load (per day, per week) what key variables
are important to consider? (Mark all that apply.)
Question options:
Overhead cost to run the practice
Cost for Service
Patient Population Served
Malpractice
Question 2
When negotiating a contract for full time employment it is
appropriate to ask for what following benefits? (Mark all that apply.)
Question options:
Malpractice Insurance
Vacation and Sick Pay
A cell Phone
Continuing education allowance
Question 3
Graduating from a nurse practitioner program and passing the
national certification exam automatically grants you the ability to sign
prescriptions. True or False:
Question options:
True
False
Question 4
Before applying for a DEA number, you must be licensed to
practice in your state of residence. True or False:
Question options:
True
False
Question 5
NPI Numbers are required for all nurse practitioners caring
for patients with Medicaid Insurance. True or False:
Question options:
True
False
