nursing

Running head: NURSING 2

NURSING 2

Professional Identity of the Nurse: Role of the Nurse and Scope of Practice

Rasmussen University

NUR1005; Introduction to Nursing

FIRST PROJECT

August 1st ,2021

Introduction

Nurses are one of the key participants in providing quality health care. Generally, nurses are involved in providing care to clients and patients to restore their wellbeing and safety. On the other hand, nursing care involves clinical interventions depending on the patient's needs. Nurses significantly have diverse roles in providing care, such as educating patients, carrying out health programs, clinical interventions through evidence-based practices, and any other activity that can improve patient’s safety and wellbeing in the health care setting. Apart from nursing roles, nurses operate through the scope of practices; this defines their roles, responsibilities, and activities using guidelines and authorities to offer quality care (Bauer & Bodenheimer, 2017). In contrast, the nursing scope of practice also defines patient’s rights and needs through nursing advocacy to provide quality care.

The roles of the nurses for the program I am currently enrolled

Nurses are involved in a variety of tasks when they give care to patients. Depending on the type of enrolled programs, nurses are generally engaged in caring for patients, specializing in their profession. However, some nurses can take care of patients and clients with general diseases/illnesses. While on the other hand, some nurses are specialized in offering services in a specific area of the nursing profession (Bauer & Bodenheimer, 2017). For example, a nurse can work in TCU while another nurse can work in Labor and Delivery. Meanwhile, this student nurse will be able to identify the unique needs of the patients in providing their emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.

In addition, one can serve as a nurse advocate by protecting patient’s rights to restore human dignity and legal process. Also, a nurse provides health education to empower individuals to improve their self-awareness and make positive choices towards behavior change and lifestyle, which improves health and wellbeing. Based on this program, the student nurse can also provide management roles through leadership in planning, organizing, evaluating, and monitoring all activities towards improving patient care. Above all, the nursing program has prepared this student nurse to act as an agent of change by carrying out research and evidence-based practice to overcome problems that might lead to poor health services. 

The scope of practice for the nurse in Minnesota

The nursing scope of practice is defined through nursing duties, tasks, and responsibilities towards providing quality services. In health care, nurses need to practice their education and abilities to the fullest to give their patients the most effective quality care (Bauer & Bodenheimer, 2017). The nursing scope of practice in the U.S. states that one must be a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse with a certified license to practice. The nurse must provide nursing care when the patient needs expertise, leading to a positive outcome.

Comparison and contrasts of the scope of practice for the LPN and R.N. using the Nurse Practice Act for the state where I intend to practice

Each state in the U.S. has set laws to administer the practice of nursing. The Nursing Practice Act (NPA) characterizes these established laws as interpreted by each state's nursing board to control the nursing care practice. Generally, R.N. nurses are more advanced as compared to LPNs. Licensed nurse practitioners are primarily involved in more basic care in providing comfort to patients. Respectively, registered nurses primarily involve in primary care such as assessments, drug administration, treatments, and educating patients and clients. Nursing education may also take different processes since LPNs must acquire a degree and complete an accredited nursing program with practical learning by combining diverse roles in nursing. At the same time, R.N.s have options of diploma, degree, or associate degree in approved nursing programs by acquiring behavior, clinical experience, and other critical areas in nursing. LPNs' licensure is obtained after completing approved practical nursing programs, while R.N.s are registered when they complete their accredited nursing programs (Prullage, 2019). All LPNs and R.N.s are responsible for meeting fundamental nursing practice; both nurses care for individuals with sufferings illness and disease by providing clinical care to help in the recovery and wellbeing of patients.

Conclusion

Despite the similarities of both registered nurses' and LPNs' roles and responsibilities towards providing care to patients and clients in our society, R.N.s have a broad scope of nursing practices compared to LPNs.  The student nurse will use the nursing scope of practice as a rule of thumb to provide quality services. Having gained enough skills and knowledge, the student nurse will follow the nursing scope of practice in offering diverse clinical skills to promote health and wellbeing for the clients. Generally, nurses are very critical practitioners in a health care setting. They involve in various roles and responsibilities towards providing quality care since they have to consider specific needs of patients, evidence-based practices, and clinical findings towards quality patient care.

References.

Bauer, L., & Bodenheimer, T. (2017). Expanded roles of registered nurses in primary care delivery of the future. Nursing Outlook, 65(5), p. 624, p 632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.03.011

Prullage, G. S. (2019). Competency-based education and continued competency. Comprehensive Neonatal Nursing Care. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826139146.0044