Running Head: APN QUALITY CARE

Advanced Practice Nursing and Advanced Quality Care

Jason Conk
Ferris State University

Abstract
Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are registered nurses with specialized degrees that provide a
wider scope of practice that can lead to better quality of care for patients. These specialized
nurses in many situations can provide the same kind of care as doctors such as ordering lab tests
and prescribing medications. APNs can speed up the process of care, lower healthcare costs all
while providing excellent quality care that meets and exceeds industry and more importantly
patient standards.
Advanced Practice Nursing and Advanced Quality Care
Advanced Practice Nurses are Registered Nurses who have completed at least a Masters
Degree in specialized course work and more frequently earning doctorate degrees, they must also
pass and maintain national licensure. APNs specialize in many areas of healthcare such as
pediatrics, anesthesia, psychiatric, and clinical specialist care among others. APNs bridge a
much needed gap between the limited amount of care registered nurses can provide and the
specialized skills and abilities that physicians provide. Many APNs operate entirely
independently and perform all essential duties of both nurses and physicians including making
diagnosis and prescribing medications.
Registered nurses pursue advanced degrees in order to obtain more autonomy and have
the scope of practice to provide for a higher quality of care. Nurses are uniquely different from
their physician counterparts as they are trained to treat and care for the patient as opposed to
diagnosing and treating the ailment inflicted upon the patient as physicians do. This difference
in training can lead to surprisingly better outcomes for not only the patients but the financial
healthcare strain inflicted upon the entire nation. As stated by Krug, Drake, and Torre (2012)

APNs are recognized as expert healthcare providers. Studies have shown that patients who have
APNs as their primary care provider have fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays
and often, lower medication costs (para. 2). If research proves that APNs are capable of
providing the same or even better care as physicians at lower costs, then they should be utilized
in all acceptable areas of healthcare if patient safety and quality of care is really of the utmost
concern.
Madeline Leiningers theory of nursing care reflects the idea that caring is the central
theme of nursing care, nursing knowledge, and nursing practice (Taylor et. al., 2011, p.75).
This simple idea and principle of caring is what can make all the difference for a patient. A
nurses unique perspective of caring for people and not ailments allows them to connect and
bond with a patient that doctors rarely do. Nurses have a long standing recognition as the most
trusted profession in healthcare. A nurses caring touch and spirit transcends into the patient and
fosters a feeling of support and compassion that encourages patient learning and knowledge that
equates to speedier, easier, cheaper, and ultimately enhanced quality of care.
APNs streamline the process of patient care by bypassing the often unnecessary,
cumbersome, and expensive process of seeing a doctor. Advanced Practice Nurses can provide
the diagnosis, laboratory tests, and prescription medications that are required for treating the
physical ailment along with the education and caring support that is needed to treat a patient as a
person. Krug et al. (2012) note that patients are routinely much more satisfied with APN care
with statements like Why do I need to see a physician and Youve done everything already,
and youve answered all my questions, renewed my medications, and ordered all my lab-work
(para 4). APNs continue to provide the quality care that is an essential part of Leiningers

nursing theory, which typically come at a substantially lower physical, psychological, and
financial cost to the patient. All of which promote much higher patient satisfaction.
While physicians of all specialties are an integral and invaluable part of healthcare, APNs
offer distinct advantages in many situations. Nurse practitioners can fill the role of doctor and
nurse all in one. This unique ability allows for faster, cheaper, and higher overall quality of care
for patients.

References
Dillon, P., M. (2007). Nursing Health Assessment. A critical thinking, case studies approach.
Philadelphia, Pa. F.A. Davis Company.
Krug, M., Drake, S., Torre, C. (2012). A Day in the Life of Advanced Practice Nurses! New
Jersey Nurse, 42. 1-2. Retrieved February, 28, 2013.
Taylor, C., R., Lillis, C., LeMone, P., Lynn, P. (2011). Fundamentals of Nursing. The art and
science of nursing. New York. Walters Kluwer.