APN Practice Effect on Healthcare Services Demonstration of APN Practice on Cost-Effectiveness

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are a well-established response to the consumer-driven movement toward well-being and preventive health care. A substantial number of statistics reveals that NPs have steadily demonstrated their ability to provide cost-effective, high-quality therapy for nearly 50 years (Schober et al., 2020). From the time they finish their academic training, NPs are cost-effective. “The American Association of Colleges of Nursing” has long argued that nurse practitioner education costs 20% to 25% less than physician education (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). In 2009, the total tuition fees for NP training were less than one year of medical school (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). Numerous studies have shown that nurse practitioners (NPs) are cost-effective in maintaining the health of older persons.

When compared to physician-only groups, the cost of a physician-NP team in a long-term treatment center is 42% lower for intermediate and skilled care residents and 26% lower for long-term care residents (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). Moreover, the physician-NP groups undergo less emergency room handovers, fewer field visits, and shorter clinic stays. Moreover, NP-management care in acute-care settings has been linked to cost reductions. According to research, when NPs and physicians control hypercholesterolemia after revascularization, the NP-manage group spends less on drugs, and it is more likely to achieve their goals and stick to the advised regimen (Schober et al., 2020). In addition to the total cost, other factors influence the cost-effectiveness of health care. These include, among other things, illness prevention, health outcomes, and promotion.

Influence of APN Practice on Reduction in Errors

Registered nurses (RNs) have several responsibilities, but the most important is keeping patients safe. Unfortunately, medical errors occur; thus, APN practices can take specific precautions to reduce the likelihood of errors. The most common medical mistakes involve falls, documentation, infections, equipment injuries, and medicines (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). Nurses gain knowledge of techniques and methods as students and through years of practice. Furthermore, coworkers, bosses, and other healthcare experts can assist nurses by providing advice and direction. Nurses can decrease coincidental errors through doing the following: “Stop medication mix-ups by establishing the six ‘rights’ of medicine administration: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019).” They keep patients from falling by urging them to ask for help getting out of bed if in need. They remove barriers that may cause patients to trip, make rounds to check on patients, and are mindful of drugs that may produce dizziness or drowsiness.

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Furthermore, APN practice assures infection prevention by washing hands, using an antiseptic for skin preparation, and practicing sterile techniques. In addition, nurses follow central line placement and removal rules to avoid bloodstream infections (Schober et al., 2020). They also ensure that urinary catheters are adequately cleaned and are not left in for an extended period. Training nurses and patients on how to handle and use equipment correctly helps prevent equipment injuries (Zaccagnini & Pechacek, 2019). Before using a piece of equipment, nurses inspect it for signs of damage, ensure its functionality, and report any flaws.

Furthermore, APNs pay attention to minutiae to reduce documentation errors. NP should document all changes in a patient’s medical state as soon as possible. Moreover, all therapies, signs, symptoms of discomfort, and adverse events should also be accurately documented (Schober et al., 2020). They record the timing and content of notifications and the physician’s orders. Nurses also record when they conduct a patient training session and how well patients and their family members understand the material (Lopes-Júnior, 2021). This helps reduce errors that can arise during patient management.