Admission Essay: Family Nurse Practitioner
Admission Essay: Family Nurse Practitioner
I am applying for admission to the MSN program to fulfill my ambition to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). This program is perfectly designed for someone with my previous experience and background. My enthusiasm for the course and my inspiration to advance in this field is an indication of my need for my own personal development and a profound passion for the good I can do for others in the future. I have based my admission essay on the objectives of an MSN degree, as detailed in the following paragraphs.
1) Synthesize theoretical and conceptual information gained from nursing and other fields, for use as an FNP.
It is clear that to function best and to the required standards as an FNP, I must stay abreast of and fully-informed on all theories and ideas, not just in advanced nursing, but in any other disciplines that either impinge on the role of an FNP, or can provide useful data to enhance my capability or performance. It is therefore my intention to not just work as hard as possible in completing all MSN program assignments, but to constantly search for other relevant information that could contribute to my knowledge or performance.
2) Evidence-Base Practice: analyze current scientific research for application of findings to initiate change and to improve practice. (This could be as a Primary Care Provider).
It is everyone’s duty and obligation to continually search for better ways. If someone else’s research has shown how existing practices can be improved or substituted, then those ideas or techniques should be introduced; not just to provide a better service but for the benefit of the clients/patients. Providing a better, more efficient service is of benefit to all involved. If the FNP practice runs more efficiently, the FNP will perform better and the recipients of the service will be better served. This has to be a win-win situation.
3) Address the health promotion and disease prevention needs of individual, family, and community populations.
This objective is my primary goal in terms of how I visualize my future as an FNP. To be in a position to get to know my community families over the longer term, is – I believe – an essential element of the FNP’s role in the community. A trusted and familiar representative of the local health care services will be more likely to gain the confidence of the public, and therefore to encourage them to reveal their concerns and potential problems, which in the longer term may save lives by diagnosing serious issues at an early stage. In addition, by getting to know everyone in my local community, I can be more effective in seeing trends such as emerging epidemics, allowing prompt and timely response.
4) Formulate a plan for ongoing contributions to improvement of health care delivery and development of health policy in a cost-effective manner.
Although classified here as a separate objective, this policy has close links with the objectives discussed above. I believe that one of the best ways to contribute to improvements and/or efficiency gains in the delivery of health care in the community is to be in a sharing environment such as online forums, which provide an excellent medium for sharing and/or advancing ideas. An easy method of finding better ways to do things is to take advantage of the experience gained by other professionals who have tried them and found them to be worthwhile. One such forum I have already used is that operated by allnurses.com, which claims to represent almost 700,000 nurses and describes itself as the “Largest Nursing Network for Nurses and Nursing Students” (n.d.). That is just one example. There are many others that can be browsed or joined to find useful information; including the “Advanced Nurse Practitioner Forum” (n.d.) operated by the UK’s Royal College of Nursing.
5) Apply an ethical decision-making process in professional practice and in analysis of systems of health care.
As a professional in the healthcare system, an FNP is required from time to time to make difficult decisions, often involving conflicts between various factors involved. I am fully aware that when such issues arise, I must always take into account ethical considerations before making my decision. The principles were described in an article by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE); entitled “Ethical Decision Making for Healthcare Executives” (revised Nov 2011). It described how those needing to make such decisions “must consider ethical principles including justice, autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence as well as professional and organizational ethical standards and codes.”
6) Models of professional leadership role that foster improvement of health care
As an aspiring FNP, I am aware that good, positive leadership, even at a local community level, is an essential ingredient to ensure confidence in the healthcare service. I know that I must strive constantly to provide inspirational leadership to any others that assist me in my work, and that such an approach will help build confidence and trust.
7) Employ Informatics & Technology in various aspects of advanced nursing practice.
All services and systems these days require the best use of technology to function properly. I know that such a philosophy applies equally for an FNP practice, not just in clinical matters but in administrative aspects such as record-keeping and database technology. I intend to be every bit as efficient in that regard as in any other aspects of my FNP work.
8) Ethical-legal guideline, professional policies and regulations and standard of practice associated with specialty area of advanced nursing practice.
An FNP, just as any other individual in a public-facing role, must be fully cognizant of ethical-legal issues, in order to avoid possible litigation for various reasons including malpractice, and in order to be properly recognized as a licensed medical practitioner. The appropriate information is provided by the professional associations concerned and defined by state law. I intend always to be very careful to observe and comply with the appropriate guidelines. An article published by Jones and Bartlett entitled “Legal Scope of Nurse Practitioner Practice” (n.d.) provides detailed guidelines on a state-by-state basis.
References
Advanced Nurse Practitioner Forum. (n.d.). Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved from http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/communities/rcn_forum_communities/nurse_practitioner
Ethical Decision Making for Healthcare Executives. (Revised Nov 2011). American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Retrieved from http://www.ache.org/policy/decision.cfm
Largest Nursing Network for Nurses and Nursing Students. (n.d.). all nurses.com. Retrieved from http://allnurses.com/
Legal Scope of Nurse Practitioner Practice. (n.d.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763749338/49338_ch02_pass2.pdf
