Differentiated Nursing Education and Practice - Assignment Example

Running Head: Differentiated Education and Practice Differentiated Nursing Education and Differentiated Nursing Practice Name: Course: Tutor’s Name: 1st, March, 2010. 1. Define what is meant by differentiated education. In addition list nursing education accreditation organizations and explain the role and purpose of each. Differentiated education is the provision of education by use of different preparation methods in order to promote understanding and improve competency levels among students. In nursing for example, differentiated education is the use of different methods of teaching to produce different specialities to ensure every speciality level has achieved its aim (Rowland & Rowland, 1998). It is making use of different education programs to produce different levels and different types of entry into practice. Differentiated education produces associate degree nurses, baccalaureate degree nurses as well as practice nurses. Its aim is to ensure that the nurses produced under each level are competent irrespective of their differences in level of understanding (Baker et al., 1997). Nursing Education Accreditation organisations (a). the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) This provides accreditation services to nursing education programs. It accredits all types of education programs used in nursing institutions from masters, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, diploma level programs (NSA 2010). (b). the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) This organization accredits two types of education programs, which are, baccalaureate and masters level nursing programs. (c). the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anaesthesia Educational Programs (COA) This is more advanced and deals with accreditation of an organization that offers advanced practice nursing programs. COA accredits anaesthesia programs meant for nurses at different levels, which are; certificate, doctoral, and master’s levels. (d). the American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation (ACNM) This organization accredits education programs on midwifery (NSA, 2010). 2. Define what is meant by differentiated practice. In addition list nursing practice accreditation organizations and explain the role and purpose of each. This is a system of sorting out functions, roles and work of professionals according to their qualifications, competencies and experience. In nursing for example, differentiated practice is the assignment of roles or work to registered nurses, based on their qualifications, level of care and competencies. In provision of care, an associate degree nurse has different roles and competency from a baccalaureate degree nurse and a practical nurse and vice versa. The same applies to the level of management of care. The practical nurse will have different duties because of the different acquired knowledge (different level of education), different competencies developed and therefore different roles from other registered nurses from other differentiated nursing programs (associate degree and baccalaureate) (Baker et al., 1997). Nursing Practice Accreditation Organizations Accreditation organizations ensure that any organization under it, abides by the rules and regulations of setting it up and operating it hence quality and efficiency. If for example a laboratory meant for clinical research has no space yet it is a requirement for safety purposes, an accreditation organization will not certify this organization. Accreditation organizations certify programs, procedures, operations or even setting up of organizations. In nursing practice, accreditation organizations evaluate the provision of healthcare at different levels to ensure that nursing practice is according to the requirements as set by respective nursing councils. One example is the Paediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). This organization certifies paediatric nurses for different roles for example; it certifies the ability, skills and knowledge of a general paediatric nurse, primary care paediatric nurse practitioner, paediatric emergency nurse and acute care paediatric nurse practitioner. It validates the nurses’ special skills, abilities and knowledge (PNCB, 2010). The second example is the American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC). This organization provides accreditation to nurses and to organizations that provide education to nurses. It has the resources needed by the nursing industry to produce excellence in nursing practice. It has credentialing programs that certify nurses under their areas of speciality or practice, has programs (Pathway to excellence program and Magnet recognition program) that recognise health care organizations as safe or with positive working environment and it also accredits the education programs and providers for nursing education. With all the above mentioned credential programs, this organization aims at quality and efficient practice in the nursing industry or profession (Board Certification of Nurses, 2010). 3. Assessing knowledge and understanding regarding differentiated education. a). How would you identify whether or not nursing administration values differences in educational preparation in an agency? When the administration employs nurses considering the different levels of education they have attained, the different competencies that they have gained and considering that the different levels of education and different competencies as suppose to perform different roles in the health institution. The types and amount of compensations given to nurses of different levels of education can also determine if a nursing administration values the differences in educational preparation. If all the nurses are paid the same amount of salary (considering them as all nurses belonging to the same job group category or same practice category) irrespective of their different qualifications and different competencies gained, then the nursing administration does not value the differences in educational preparation that the nurses undergo. If a nursing administration considers additional compensation to those with additional training and also considers the roles of the nurses, then that administration values the differences in educational preparation (ANA, 2008). b). What strategies might you suggest to your agency to enlist it in paying for advanced educational preparation that is required for the new position you would like to apply for? Strategies should be based on the level of education, the type of education of nursing practice taken and the roles taken for example, according to the C-NAK, there are Nursing practice level nurses who can be managers of other registered nursed doing nursing practice, there are registered nurses who can be managers at the baccalaureate level and there are nurses who can be managers of other nurses in the associated degree level of nursing. It would be important therefore to pay nurses based on their type of practice, the roles they will perform and the level of education. Baccalaureate degree nurses can choose to further their education to PhD level and this cannot be paid the same salary as the baccalaureate degree level nurse. The same applies to associate degree nurses and nursing practice level nurses. All these types of nursing practices are different and individuals are trained differently to perform different roles in a community or hospital setting (C-NAK Document). c). what will the agency require from you in return for these funds? To act professionally, perform all the duties of the level of nursing achieved from college for example, if the employed nurse had a baccalaureate degree in nursing practice, the employer expects the duties to be performed like a baccalaureate degree level person, with all the competencies that a baccalaureate level nurse would have. Types of nursing practices produce nurses with different competencies and the employer expects to get this from the employee when hired. Perform all the duties assigned, or perform all duties assigned professionally and demonstrate competency depending on the level of education and the type of nursing practice taken defining ones profession or practice in nursing (C-NAK Document). d). What are the advantages and/or disadvantages for requesting support from an agency for either continuing hours of education (CEUs) or college credit hours? Advantages: College credit hours reduce the period of studying from the day of entrance to the day of completion. The student therefore takes a short time to achieve a certain level of education. This will also lessen the financial burden that the student and the parents would have gone through for so many years. The students would save housing expenses, expenses on tuition and other expenses depending on the number of years saved. It would also be beneficial for students who depend on loan programs for education as the debt would be reduced depending on the number of reduced years of study. Another advantage is that one starts practicing his or her profession at an early age. Disadvantages: College credit hours increase the burden on the students since the courses are taught the same way as the other courses and have assignments, projects and examinations like the rest. This can lead to a struggle with the course work. The student can fail in some exams leading to no credits being awarded even for the extra efforts made. Every education program has specific period for completion and recommended hours of study. The hours of study set for such programs are done after analysis of what the course requires and what time is needed for students to gain the required knowledge and level of competency. Reducing the time required to complete a course may lead to production of incompetent students. The student may graduate but may not be as competent as the others who have taken the time required. This is why the Nursing council approves courses and approves the activities within them as well as the time necessary to develop necessary competency levels to work in the health care institutions (Cohen & Brawer, 2003). 3. Assessing knowledge and understanding regarding differentiated practice. a. How could you be an advocate to the public as a representative of the nursing profession? By determining what the public requires and comparing that to what the nursing practice offers. This will enable determination of the gaps in nursing profession, that is, those services or professions lacking in the public but are needed by the people. Discussing this with the nursing council can help develop an education program that will train nurses specifically to provide that service to the public or make a decision to include it to already existing professions or nursing practice levels and types like baccalaureate degree, associate degree in nursing and nursing practice (Wakefield, Wright & Kraft, 1998). b. How would you describe differentiated practice to a nursing administrator in a non- adversarial manner she/he indicates a nurse is a nurse is a nurse? It is important to describe the requirements of the public in relation to nursing practice. A nurse cannot just be a nurse when there are so many people who need to be nursed differently, in different sections of health care institutions and have different types of diseases. People are aging, there are young people to be treated differently, there are some diseases that need patient isolation during nursing care, there are those who need rehabilitation, the world is changing and new technologies are being developed and the nurses have to be there. A nurse cannot be a nurse considering the demand of what the public needs and the changing system in almost all sectors of professional development. Nurses have to have different knowledge on how to deal with patients depending on hospital or health care institution’s settings, the severity of disease, the type of disease, the different types of roles that nurses are required to do and so many other public requirements. One nurse cannot be able to do all those roles. This is the reason why it is important to have nurses with different types of qualifications or nursing practice, at different levels (Rowland & Rowland, 1997). c. What agencies are most likely to value and utilize a differentiated practice model? A hospital that has different departments for example, the midwifery department, the children’s section, the adult section and the section meant for the very old people. Agencies such as rehabilitation centres, for example a pulmonary rehabilitation centre, would look for nurses with the knowledge, experience and competencies to handle patients with chronic rehabilitation disease. Such an agency will value differentiated practice. d. When an agency uses a differentiated practice model, what advantages does it have over agencies that do not? When an agency uses a differentiated practice model, it will have shared governance which facilitates involvement of the staff nurses in the clinical decision making process, effective deployment of nursing staff into new emerging roles, increased clinical management skills that lead to integration and continuity of care and substantial cost savings (Rowland & Rowland, 1997). Reference List American Nurses' Association (ANA). (2008). Educational Preparation for Nurse Practitioners and Assistants to Nurses: a Position Paper. Silver Spring, Mary Land: The American Association of Nurses. Baker, C. M., Lamm, G. M., Winter, A. R., Robbeloth, V. B., Ransom, C. A., Conly, Franklin., C., Kristen. C and McCoy, L. E. (1997). Differentiated Nursing Practice: Assessing the State of the Science. Nursing Economics Journal. 15(5), 253-261. Board Certification of Nurses. (2010). Makes a Difference. Retrieved- on 21st, Feb, 2010. From: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/. Nursing School Accreditation (NSA). (2010). Nursing School Accreditation Bodies. Retrieved on 21st Feb, 2010 from: http://www.allnursingschools.com/faqs/accredfaq. C-NAK Premise and Competency Levels Hand Out. Cohen, A. M. and Brawer, F. B. (2003). The American Community College. (4th Ed). Boston, Massachusetts: John Wiley and Sons. Paediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). (2010). Our Exams. Retrieved on 22nd Feb, 2010 from; http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/index Rowland, H. S. and Rowland, B. L. (1997). Nursing Administration Handbook.( 4th Ed). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Wakefield-Fisher, M., Wright, M. M., & Kraft, Lee. (1986). A First for the Nation: North Dakota and Entry into Nursing Practice. Nursing & Health Care, 7(3), 135-141. Read More