Introduction
In their daily practice, NPS communicate, establish relationships, and directly influence the life and well-being of their patients. Given the vast level of responsibility, a professional in nursing must strictly follow the code of conduct and the guidelines of the standard of care. The application of uninformed decisions and neglecting attitude toward patients’ concerns might result in unwanted consequences and should be avoided to ensure qualitative and competent nursing care at all times. To manage the risks of being sued for negligence or misconduct, NPs should follow the guidelines of the standard of care by implementing evidence-based practice and following ethical and cultural protocols (Camargo et al. 2018). Therefore, the scientific basis of nursing care is the foundation for competent and adequate delivery of medical services to patients.
The omnipresence of evidence-based practice in the nursing profession implies NPs’ primary focus on the latest research findings on care interventions, devices, and relationship-forming approaches. The medical standard of care addresses all manifestations of the “nurse-patient relationship and must be evidence-based in each case,” and if one fails to comply with the standard and causes harm, “liability in negligence and an award of damages” will follow (Griffith, 2019, p. 37). Moreover, according to Skaggs et al. (2018), the application of evidence-based practice allows for increasing the level of patient satisfaction and more effective achievement of patient health goals. Such efforts are capable of eliminating the risks of financial or professional reputation damages for NPs.
Health Care Reform: Is it Beneficial to NPS?
In the continuously developing modern world, health care is one of the most vividly advancing spheres. The changing lifestyles of people lead to new patterns in their health, which imposes continuous adjustment of the health care system to the demands of people and time. Therefore, changing policies and reforming health care constitute an inevitable process. However, the integration of new guidelines, requirements, and procedures implies challenges for NPs. Indeed, the shortage of nursing staff under the influence of the increased number of insured patients imposes increased workload and risks of burnout for NPs (Bernazzani, 2016). However, despite this problematic issue, it is being resolved by the provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
The health reform is aimed at eliminating the unintended consequences of the increased insured population and aims at filling the gap in the negative nurse-patient ratio. According to Erickson (2016), the Affordable Care Act empowers NPS by awarding financial support to graduate nurses whose number grows each year, initiating grants, and funding nursing organizations. Moreover, “federal funds are now being used by health care systems to reimburse clinical sites and preceptors for time devoted to NP training,” improving the competence of NPs (Carthon et al., 2015, p. 527). In my opinion, health reform allows me to develop professionally and expand my expertise due to the responsibilities of primary care provision placed on NPS.
NPI and DEA Numbers
For a health care provider to be authorized to work with patients and provide treatment, he or she must obtain a National Provider Identification (NPI) Number and a DEA Number. Both NPI and DEA are essential for NPs’ work in the health care system of the USA since they standardize the quality of care and eliminate the risk of unprofessional conduct. NPI is a unique number that is obtained by health care providers to use that NPI to identify themselves “as a health care provider in HIPAA standard transactions” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMMS], 2020, para. 3). In essence, anyone who is regarded as a health care provider must have an NPI number to work with patients in the USA.
However, NPI does not authorize providers to prescribe medications, which is why a DEA number is needed. DEA is a unique number that allows a health care provider prescribes medication to patients (Jones, 2018). It is used to “identify the prescriber of a controlled or dangerous substance” (CMMS, 2020, para. 3). A DEA number might be obtained by applying for a relevant form at the U.S. Department of Justice, receiving an order form at a DEA Registration Field Office, and submitting a filled requisition form (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020). Upon obtaining one’s DEA number, a nurse is eligible to prescribe substances to patients.
Joining the Ranks of a Profession
During the course, I managed to learn basic concepts and guidelines behind the nursing profession and the responsibilities of an NP. Given the multiple manifestations of the profession, I now identify myself as a nurse whose primary responsibility is to utilize all internal and external resources to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to the served population (Warren & Harper, 2017). To be professional and consistent in my work, I understand that I need to follow a learning framework that entails “knowledge, followed by competence and performance, and ending with action” (Moyer & Graebe, 2018, p. 53). Among the ways I could contribute to the profession, there is professional advancement through training, scientific work, inter-disciplinary learning, improvement of my facility’s quality of care, and enhancement of my professional competence through joining a professional association.
The reforming of health care causes significant changes to the system by initiating more insurance coverage, cost-efficient delivery of care, and continuous education of providers. To address the challenges of “rapid technological advances and increasing consumer expectations for quality,” I will engage in training for technology use (Harper et al., 2016, p. 242). Overall, continuous professional development will allow me to grow and apply my expertise to the well-being of my patients.
Present and Future Opportunities
NPS might find job opportunities in various public and private entities where they might apply their professional skills and knowledge. As for Tampa, Florida, several worthy opportunities might be considered as future workplaces. The most frequently posted job offers include the positions of registered nurses, clinical nurses in a pediatric department, telephone triage nurses, onsite RNs, and others (“Registered nurses,” n. d.). In particular, there is a full-time position of a registered nurse – telephone triage (2020) that entails the delivery of phone-mediated nursing services to patients with acute and chronic needs. Two years of experience and a Florida RN license and BLS/AED certification are required; the salary is estimated at $50,000 – $68,000 a year.
Another option for my future career opportunity available in Tampa is an advanced clinical research nurse practitioner/physician assistant. This position is available at Lightship and requires a current NP license, and two years of experience in clinical practice and clinical research. The position entails working in a study team and conducting clinical research, documenting and reporting outcomes, and providing patient education (“Advanced clinical research nurse practitioner/physician assistant,” 2020). The benefits include insurance, parental leave, employee discounts, and assistance programs.
References
Advanced clinical research nurse practitioner/physician assistant. (2020). LinkedIn. Web.
American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2020). How to get information about obtaining a DEA number [Data set]. Web.
Bernazzani, S. (2016). How healthcare reform is impacting primary care. The American Journal of Managed Care.
Camargo, F. C., Iwamoto, H. H., Galvao, C. M., Pereira, G. D. A., Andrade, R. B., & Masso, G. C. (2018). Competences and barriers for the evidence-based practice in nursing: An integrative review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71(4), 2030–2038.
Carthon, J. M. B., Barnes, H., & Sarik, D. A. (2015). Federal polices influence access to primary care and nurse practitioner workforce. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(5), 526–530.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2020). Unique identifiers FAQs [Data set].
Erickson, F. (2016). The role of nurse practitioners in health care reform. Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.
Griffith, R. (2019). Negligence and the standard of care in district nursing. British Journal of Community Nursing, 24(1), 35–37.
Harper, M. G., Aucoin, J., & Warren, J. I. (2016). Nursing professional development organizational value demonstration project. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 32(5), 242–247.
Jones, E. B. (2018). Practice characteristics of nurse practitioners in mental health and. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32, 599–603.
Moyer, A., & Graebe, J. (2018). Identifying the underlying educational needs that contribute to the professional practice gap. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(2), 52–54.
Registered nurse – telephone triage. (2020). Simply Hired. Web.
Registered nurses. (n. d.). Indeed.
Skaggs, M. K. D., Daniels, J. F., Hodge, A. J., & DeCamp, V. L. (2018). Using the evidence-based practice service nursing bundle to increase patient satisfaction. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(1), 3 –45.
Warren, J. I., & Harper, M. G. (2017). Transforming roles of nursing professional development practitioners. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 33(1), 2– 12.