Describe three barriers that have slowed down the progress of advanced practice nursing and strategies to help overcome these barriers. (Saunders, 2014)
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Discussion Post
This guide will help you develop a clear, well-supported, graduate-level discussion that fully addresses the assignment requirements.
Step 1: Understand the Focus of the Assignment
This prompt asks you to:
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Identify three major barriers to advanced practice nursing (APN)
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Explain how each barrier has slowed progress
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Propose realistic strategies to overcome each barrier
Your discussion should reflect an understanding of policy, education, and practice issues affecting APNs.
Step 2: Organize Your Paper Before Writing
To meet the 500-word requirement and maintain clarity, plan your response using this structure:
Suggested Structure
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Introduction
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Barrier One and Strategy
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Barrier Two and Strategy
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Barrier Three and Strategy
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Conclusion
Each barrier should be discussed in its own paragraph(s), followed immediately by a corresponding strategy.
Step 3: Write a Strong Introduction
In your introduction:
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Briefly define advanced practice nursing
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Emphasize its importance in improving access, quality, and outcomes
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End with a thesis statement identifying that multiple barriers continue to limit APN role advancement
Tutor Tip: Avoid listing the barriers in the introduction—save details for the body paragraphs.
Step 4: Barrier One – Regulatory and Scope-of-Practice Restrictions
Discuss:
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State-by-state variation in scope-of-practice laws
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Limitations on independent practice and prescriptive authority
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How these restrictions affect access to care and workforce utilization
Strategy to Overcome the Barrier
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Advocate for full practice authority
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Support legislative reform using evidence-based outcomes
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Encourage professional organization involvement
Step 5: Barrier Two – Lack of Role Clarity and Professional Resistance
Explain:
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Ongoing confusion about APN roles among healthcare professionals
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Resistance from other disciplines
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Impact on collaboration and utilization of APNs
Strategy to Overcome the Barrier
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Increase interprofessional education
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Clearly define roles within healthcare organizations
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Promote evidence demonstrating APN effectiveness
Tutor Tip: Cite research showing positive APN patient outcomes to strengthen this section.
Step 6: Barrier Three – Educational and Faculty Shortages
Describe:
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Limited availability of qualified faculty
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Clinical placement challenges
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Impact on APN program capacity and workforce growth
Strategy to Overcome the Barrier
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Invest in doctoral education for nurse educators
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Expand clinical partnerships
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Utilize innovative teaching models (simulation, tele-precepting)
Step 7: Write a Strong Conclusion
Your conclusion should:
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Summarize the three barriers and strategies
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Reinforce the importance of addressing these challenges
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End with a forward-looking statement about the future of advanced practice nursing
Step 8: Apply APA and Scholarly Writing Standards
Before submission:
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Ensure APA 7th edition formatting
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Use in-text citations
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Include a reference list
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Maintain an academic tone
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Confirm the 500-word minimum is met
Helpful Academic Resources
You may use the following scholarly sources to support your discussion:
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Saunders, H. (2014). The role of advanced practice nurses in healthcare delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
https://www.aanp.org -
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) – Scope of Practice
https://www.ncsbn.org -
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
https://www.aacnnursing.org -
Purdue OWL – APA 7th Edition Formatting
https://owl.purdue.edu
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