Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Practice Nurse Role - Assignment Example

? Portfolio Reflection Paper NUR502: Advanced Pathophysiology Pathophysiology is also referred to as physiopathology that is a combination of two disciplines involved with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that afflict organisms. Physiology is the biological aspect or discipline that describes the mechanisms that operate within an organism, which include both the chemical and physical processes. Pathology encompasses the physical attributes that are observable during a diseased state in an individual or organism. Pathophysiology is used in medicine to describe the undesired and abnormal conditions manifested in an individual during sickness. It also explains the physiological processes that are caused biochemical mechanisms and reactions in the body during sickness. Etiology is a process that goes hand in hand with pathophysiology because it involves the evaluation and study of causative agents or factors behind an ailment. Pathogenesis entails the mechanism(s) through which a causative agent leads to the development of a disease in an individual or organism. It also refers to the development and origin of an ailment along with its mode of transmittance and propagation. All the above-mentioned processes are used in the medical professional to map out the development and manifestation of diseases in organisms. Through these processes, medical professionals are able to develop interventionist, preventive and curative manoeuvres to combat disease causing agents and factors. Individuals have various manifestations and reactions to diseases, these reactions provide valuable indicators as to the nature and seriousness of an ailment. Physiological responses to illnesses are the first indicators that are sought by medical professionals to act as sign posts of the nature of an ailment. They can be typically observed and measured quantitatively like fever or qualitatively like the amount of virus or pathogen present in an individual’s system. Psychological responses to sickness require specialized skill and training in order to be able to effectively discern the presence of an ailment (Pulcini et al. 2010). According to Pulcini and his co-authors, (2010), differential diagnosis can be rule out the presence of a condition or ailment from a list of probable options. Pathophysiology enables medical personnel ascertain the level of severity of a disease condition and determine appropriate measures to eradicate or curb its spread. Through proper and competent analysis of various predisposing factors, medical personnel are placed in position that enables them to identify the most effective and efficient intervention to treat an illness. NUR515: Advanced Pharmacology Pharmacology is a branch of medicine concerned with the study of the body’s reaction with compounds introduced in the body for the purposes of combating disease causing agents. According to Hamric, Spross & Hanson (2008), pharmacokinetics is concerned investigating and evaluating the path taken by compounds introduced into the body in an effort to combat disease-causing agents. The biochemical and physiological reaction and interaction of compounds introduced into the body to act as a drug against pathogens are called pharmacodynamics. Proficiency in pharmacology enables an individual to administer drug regimens to individuals with regard to their diverse predisposition culturally, traditionally and spiritually. This is because there are multiple treatment or curative measures for a single disease, but with different requirements and side effects that should be put into consideration when prescribing drugs. Pharmacological competence enables a medical practitioner to prescribe treatment regimens that are in line with the medical requirements for the disease. It also enables prescriptions to be based on economic, cultural and spiritual consideration of the patient. Pharmacological competence ensures that the health of patients is assured in terms of guaranteed prescription of drugs that maximize their ability to combat pathogens with minimal adverse drug reactions. NUR512: Advanced Practice Nurse Role Advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in offering and developing new methods of delivering cost effective care and increasing access to qualified practitioners for individuals and groups (Hamric, Spross & Hanson, 2008). Their is role is vital because they provide health care services to under privileged/served populations and groups, which is facilitated by evidence based practice. Evidence based clinical practices facilitated by theory and research into the immediate needs of society’s health needs in the principle behind advanced practice nurses (Hamric et al. 2008). The state of Florida has been experiencing a shortage in nursing professionals, which can be attributed the fact that nurses there do not adhere to all the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) rules and guidelines. This has been due to efforts being made to increase the relevance of advanced practice nurses. This is because unlike other states, nurses in Florida are not allowed to use their own practice licenses to their full scope of training (Hamric et al. 2008). Rescinding on this directive and allowing nurse practitioners to use their licenses would ease the current crisis caused by the shortage of health practitioners. APRN members are revitalizing the nursing professional because of their advanced competence through experience and skill. Through the intervention ad participation of APRN nurses, direct patient care, organizational systems and nursing practice have seen a significant improvement in terms of health care delivery. Appropriate nursing ethical code of conduct is attributed to increasing patient confidence in health care practitioners. Thus, this enables effective and efficient corporation between patients with their health care providers making treatment and eradication of diseases more effective and productive. NUR 535: Health Policy and Politics The current health care system in the United States of America is based or designed towards a universal health care system. To this end, medical health care is largely provided by the private sector based institutions. Most of the funding is through government-initiated programs such as the Medicaid, Medicare, the children’s health insurance program, Tricare and veterans’ health administration (Shi & Singh, 2011). The health care provision initiatives by the U.S. government have been a failure because they have failed in ensuring the realization of universal health care access to its citizenry. This can be largely attributed to failures in funding protocols instituted by various political leaderships in the country (Shi & Singh, 2011). This can be exemplified by the on-going government shutdown due to a lack of consensus in the legislature on h to proceed with the funding of the proposed Obamacare. NUR 522: Advanced Health Assessment Proficiency in health assessment protocols ensures a health practitioner is in a position to utilize in-depth practical and analytical knowledge of nursing to develop appropriate interventionist protocols. Nurses with assessment skills are able to analyse data on patients and disease patterns to come up with preventive measures that can be develop disaster management plans in case of an outbreak. Advanced practice nurses are better placed to develop evidence based disease management protocols because of their experience the evidence-based practice. NUR 525: Nursing Theory & Research Nursing theories aim to describe, explain and predict phenomenon involved in the nursing profession. These theories provide the foundations of nursing practice and aid in the generation of further knowledge by indicating the direction of nursing in the future (Pulcini et al. 2010). Theory in nursing works to help in establishing what is practically achievable in the nursing field. This helps in formulation of future training and educational curriculums in order to achieve what is only possible in theory. This improves health care provision in terms of advancing nursing methodology and application. Current research studies are geared towards establishing the best application for evidence based nursing practice. This is because advanced practice nursing has illustrated the effectiveness and importance and of research and theory in nursing and other related fields in health care provision. The impact of evidence based nursing practice on direct patient care for those with terminal illnesses can have significant impacts on the wellbeing patients. A research study should be conducted to establish and evaluate the significance of evidence based nursing practice on terminally ill patients. NUR 611: Advanced Practice Nurse I Advanced practice nurses I, are equipped with the competence to engage in collaborative practices with other professionals from diverse backgrounds and skills. Ethical practices in nursing ensure that patients and stakeholders in the nursing fraternity appreciate the profession. Competence in the field of advanced practice nursing has facilitated the designing and development of a universal patient care plan that caters for a diverse patient criterion. Qualified advanced practices nurses are equipped to participate in joint initiatives with professionals of other related fields of medicine in formulation, development and implementation of effective and effective health care measures and interventions. Advanced practice nurses are able to assess patient’s health care needs and requirements by assessing their immediate environmental, epidemiological and social backgrounds to efficiently come up with treatment or preventive action. NUR 616: Advanced Practice Nurse II – Care for Chronically Ill Client. Although data and information regarding the effectiveness and significance of advanced practice nurses in the care for chronically ill patients, their experience is vital in this sector of health care provision. This is achievable through the utilization of available current health policies and resources to maximize care for chronically ill patients. Advanced practice nurses are better placed to utilize evidence-based practices because this is in the nature of their training and practice. References Hamric, A. B., Spross, J. A., & Hanson, C. M. (2008). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach. Elsevier Health Sciences. Pulcini, J., Jelic, M., Gul, R., & Loke, A. Y. (2010). An international survey on advanced practice nursing education, practice, and regulation. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(1), 31-39. Shi, L. & Singh, D. A. (2011). Delivering Health Care in America. New York: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Read More