Philosophy of Advanced Practice Nursing
Philosophers have pondered for centuries over the meaning of life. In health care, we interact with people at different stages of their lives on a daily basis, many times failing to pause and reflect on the ripples our actions create. However, as daunting a task it may be, the true essence of health care emerges from examining these difficult questions: what is life about, and what am I doing to influence it?
As far as why life emerged in the first place, that is not a question that can be effectively answered with brevity. However, life does exist, and it signifies great meaning. I believe life is about caring for and loving one another. This is what drove me towards health care. In this career, I have the opportunity to make a difference.
I treat my patients with compassion and respect. I understand their autonomy, and I empower my patients to make their own health care decisions. I understand that the lives of my patients are not enumerated by days, but rather by the quality of the moments they can spend with loved ones. I wish not merely to preserve life, but rather to preserve the quality of life. I encourage my patients to celebrate every day and to treat it as a gift-that every moment should be used for some good purpose. Finally, when the end draws near, I will provide my patients with a comfortable and dignified passage. I believe death is as miraculous and mystifying as birth. It should be approached with the same respect and appreciation.
Advanced practice nursing is an aspect of health care driven to provide comprehensive care for the whole person. Advance practice nurses strive to treat people-not just disease. Nurse practitioners work to educate their patients so they can make better health care decisions. Since their services are often rendered at a lower fee, nurse practitioners take pride in reducing the ever expanding cost of health care. ARNPs practice ethically, ensuring that the patient receives quality treatment, but not unnecessary testing or medication. Finally, nurse practitioners work at developing new knowledge for the field through research. They use evidence based practice so that their patients receive the best outcomes. Advanced practice nursing allows for quality care and patient-centered treatment, all while reducing cost.
An advanced practice nurse has a great responsibility in promoting health and preventing illness. It is more effective to prevent disease than to treat disease. Health promotion should be the first line of defense in the nurse practitioner’s arsenal. The nurse practitioner must also be skilled in health restoration, but the goal of practice is to have less disease to treat.
Two main factors differentiate the nurse practitioner from other health care providers: the focus on caring for the whole person, and the focus on preventing disease versus treating disease. As a primary care provider, the nurse practitioner assumes responsibility for maintaining the health of an individual to the greatest extent. While specialists are available for complex and severe disease, the nurse practitioner should strive to prevent illness. Also, this provider should seek to care for the person in the context of their lifestyle, culture, background, and preferences. The treatment plan should be formulated with the patient, not for the patient.
Society should expect the advance practice nurse to advocate for their health. The ARNP should stay current on research and literature and should practice according to the latest guidelines. This person should serve as a community leader, a role model, and a paradigm of healthy behavior.
In conclusion, the role of the advance practice nurse is to improve lives. In this role, I will strive to become a partner in my patients’ health. I will lead by example by living a healthy lifestyle, staying current on latest research, and finding meaning in each day. This is what advanced practice nursing means to me. Perhaps the bigger objective of this, however, is providing others the health to find meaning in their own lives.
