• In what ways could an understanding of systems theory and complexity science impact the role of the NP?
• Take a few minutes to reflect on the NP practice model that is most predominant in advanced practice environments you have observed. Are you satisfied with the demonstrated level of interprofessional collaboration?
• Briefly consider what appears to be the driving practice model for advanced practice nursing in your state. If your state lags behind in its practice model language, what might you do to facilitate change?

Answer:

Compression of systems theory and complexity science has a bearing on the role of nursing practitioners in a myriad of ways.  The most critical one is research. Nursing practitioners need to have the capacity to question the way things operate. Evidence-based practice can alter the way nurses practice. Since health research is always evolving; nurses need to encompass it in complex adaptive systems which then impact our systems theory (Gallo, 2012).  Additionally, complexity and systems theories impact nursing practice in many other ways; where the Nursing practitioner has to handle patient-centered care from an interdisciplinary design (Gallo, 2012). For example, the Nursing practitioner has to consider the diagnostics and carry out the requisite tests, embracing the fact that the client's STAT CT will be bumped to accommodate a stroke alert or the client's near-fatal arrhythmia will take precedent over the client's acute pain. Essentially comprehending systems theory and complexity theory will aid the nursing practitioner to make key decisions that have a bearing on the patient's well-being. That is through being able to carry out numerous tasks, prioritize, and handle all the arising issues.

The nursing practice model I commonly observe is that of collaborative practice. In the State of Texas, the nursing practitioner must practice within certain set regulations. For instance, the Nursing practitioner must have a supervising physician to practice. One outstanding issue I noticed is the failure of the senior citizens to accept young nursing practitioners as qualified and capable of administering health care.  In circumstances where young nursing practitioners examine a client for more than once, the elderly patients always remark or ask about when the real doctor will be coming in. While the nursing practitioner tried to illuminate the patient of his role as a nursing practitioner, the patients was still reluctant on accepting being taken care of by an NP as opposed to a medical doctor.

 As a future nursing practitioner, I think that community education will aid our clients to comprehend the roles of NPs, our capacities, and educational qualifications (Norman, 2013). Health care facilities and insurance firms can carry out regular patient seminars where the clients are illuminated on the benefits of being taken care of by a nursing practitioner, there academic achievements, professional credentials, and that that they have the total capacity of managing health care needs of the populace they serve.

References

Gallo, G. (2012). Conflict Theory, Complexity and Systems Approach. Systems Research And Behavioral Science, 30(2), 156-175. doi: 10.1002/sres.2132

Norman, C. (2013). Teaching systems thinking and complexity theory in health sciences. Journal Of Evaluation In Clinical Practice, 19(6), 1087-1089. doi: 10.1111/jep.12065