Title: NUR 513 Describe how the role of advanced registered nurse transformed over time

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NUR 513 Describe how the role of advanced registered nurse transformed over time

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) defines  Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) as master’s-prepared nurses who provide direct clinical care. This includes the nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse–midwife (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and clinical nurse specialist (CNS).  According to DeNisco, the advanced registered nurse is a nurse with a master’s or doctoral degree recognized by the AACN.

Nurse Anesthetists have practiced for more than 150 years as the main providers of anesthesia care for the military on the front lines during wartime. In 1952, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology established the certified registered nurse anesthetist credential to monitor the quality and consistency of nurse anesthetist education. Today, nurse anesthetists autonomously and in collaboration with physicians provide 45 million anesthetics annually.

The first nurse-midwife school was established in 1925 to provide family health, childbearing, and delivery care to women in the Appalachian Mountains due to high maternal and child death rates. Currently, all nurse-midwifery programs are in colleges and universities. Nurse midwives now provide autonomous primary care focusing on pregnancy,  childbirth, the postpartum phase, newborn care, family planning, and gynecological care.
The nurse midwife has prescriptive authority in all 50 states and territories and mandatory Medicaid reimbursement status.

The nurse practitioner (NP) role was created in the 1960s to address the shortage of pediatric primary care providers in rural areas. Initially, the training program ranged from 3-12 months. As the NP’s scope and responsibilities changed, the master’s degree became entry level of education required. Today, the  AACN recommends a doctoral of nursing practice for NPs. Currently, NPs are the largest group of advanced practice nurses.

The role of the clinical nurse specialist was created in the 1960s to provide advanced care to psychiatric patients. Today, the clinical nurse specialist is able to practice without physician supervision, prescribe medications and durable medical equipment, and order diagnostic tests in some states.

The level of education and training for entry as an advanced practice nurse continues to increase as the scope of practice and responsibilities also increases. The population is aging with more co-morbidities. The predicted physician shortage signals an impending lack of care for patients with complex care needs. Advanced practice nurses must be educated, supported, and empowered to continue to step in and fill the gap to meet the demands of the patients.