The Highest Level of Nursing Practice

The Highest Level of Nursing Practice

The topmost rank among the levels of nursing practice is to have a PhD; you can only attain this by studying a doctorate degree in Nursing. You cannot just attain this just by skipping other degrees, you should first consider taking a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree before proceeding to a doctorate degree.

Of course if you’re a nurse, it feels better to be a RN or a registered nurse; you can get that after passing the nursing licensure exam that is offered for graduating nursing students. But wouldn’t it feel so much better and more prestigious if you were carrying a PhD badge? To have a PhD is never easy; it entails determination, discipline and diligence. If you are planning to take a Doctor of Nursing Practice level, be sure you know what you’re getting in to because graduating with a PhD is not as easy as bachelor’s and master’s degree. The course normally includes clinical characteristic of nursing than academic study. This means that you go under advanced leadership practice; you apply what you’ve learned for you to become an advanced practice nurses.

There are several doctorate practices for nursing. You can take Doctors of Medicine or MD, or if you want to be more specific and you want to be a dentist, then I suggest you take Doctors of Dental Medicine. Other schools who offer doctorate degree have Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctors of Psychology, and a lot more. It’s your choice what you want to excel in. Surely, to have a doctorate degree will earn you respect and recognition in your workplace and everywhere you go.

The relation between the Levels of Nursing Practice and Nursing Education

The relation between the Levels of Nursing Practice and Nursing Education

There are different levels of nursing practice that is related in the field of nursing education. One cannot just jump to the highest level of nursing practice without having to go to the process of formal education. Also these levels differentiates nurses from one another; skills and knowledge, description of jobs, salary, work shifts, participation in the hospital and a lot more. If you think that all nurses can be a doctor’s assistant, well think again.

There is a ladder that signifies the step-by-step procedure in attaining the highest level. Getting to know the basics of care giving is probably the first step in nursing; you can attain that by a 2-month education as a certified nursing assistant. If you are a certified nursing assistant then you’ll probably be the one to help patients walk, reach something, help them go to bed or take another position, feed them.

LPNs or Licensed Practical Nurses on the other hand are different. LPNs progress in terms of their knowledge and skills compared to the CNAsor certified nursing assistants. Even though LPNs can do the things that normal CNAs do, they can also cover up wounds of patience, give alcohol massages, direct medications such as giving injections, analyze the progress of patients, and any other orders that a higher nursing rank can give. They still cannot take orders from doctors directly.

If you want to have the opportunity to work with doctors, I suggest you get registered. Registered nurses are those who pass the nursing licensure board exam. Their knowledge has been tested and so are their skills. They can work in hospitals to assist doctors in different operations; they also have the proper knowledge in making equipments work in the hospitals. Of course they are paid higher than CNAs and LPNs.

What is an Independent Nursing Practice

What is Independent Nursing Practice?

How would you like to hang at your gate or window a sign bearing your name and the words “Independent Nursing Practitioner?” As the term implies, “independent” means the nurse is self-employed and provides professional nursing services to clients/parents and their families. While some independent nursing practitioners set up their clinics near a hospital, most of them are community-based. These nurses reach out and offer theirs services rather than expect clients to seek their help. They perform both independent and collaborative roles. Health care assessment, formulating plans for health maintenance, prevention strategies, continuation of supportive activities in critical and complex health problems are all within the scope of nursing practice. They make referrals and collaborate with physicians and other disciplines as needed by the client or family.

Independent nurse practitioners are accountable for their decisions. Whether their role is independent or collaborative, it is based on the fact that each health care discipline offers an area of knowledge and expertise. Collaborative work is needed for effective, efficient, and economical care. It is essential therefore that independent nurse practitioners acquire working knowledge of the skills and expertise of other health workers.

The growing interest in independent nursing practice is expected to very much contribute to the improvement of the existing health care delivery system. It is time that we asses our own resources to explore this new field of practice. But the initial preparation for this kind of practice should have been incorporated first in nursing programs before nurses can assume the role effectively.

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