Advanced Nursing Practice: An Integrative Approach

From The Critics

Reviewer: Sharon J. Olsen, MS, NP, AOCN(Johns Hopkins University )
Description: This recently published second edition is a welcome and expanded revision of the 1996 edition. The editors explore advanced nursing practice, its definition, competencies, roles, and issues facing APNs. The book is well written, comprehensive, and grounded in research. There are 39 appropriately credentialed contributors and 26 chapters. The liberal use of tables, figures, and algorithms enhance this text-dense volume.
Purpose: The stated goal is to propose a clear understanding of advanced nursing practice in both specialty and primary care roles and to ensure the APN's ability to proactively manage the practice environment.
Audience: The book would be most useful to graduate students in APN roles and educators.
Features: As the title suggests, this integrative text is built around a core definition and conceptual model of advanced nursing practice. Six essential features are described: expert guidance and coaching of patients, families, and other health care providers; consultation; research skills, including utilization, evaluation, and conduct; clinical and professional leadership, including competence as a change agent; collaboration; and ethical decision-making skills. Though there is a clear bias toward the importance of clinical practice, each of these areas is developed separately in detail. In addition to reviews of the historical aspects of advanced nursing practice, individual chapter contributors address the roles of CNS, primary care NP, acute care NP, the blended CNS/NP role, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and the advanced practice nurse case manager.
Assessment: Broader discussions of change theory and systems theory would have enhanced the scholarly nature of this book and provided future leaders with templates for facilitating change or analyzing their health care system to facilitate integration of change or modify systems to maximize patient care. Finally, clinical research and outcomes data are increasingly demanded to justify the quality and cost effectiveness of APN care. Much has been published since the 1999 data cited by most contributors, and as we enter 2001 the addition of this interim data would significantly enhance the importance of this volume for students, clinicians, educators, and administrators.

Sharon J. Olsen

This recently published second edition is a welcome and expanded revision of the 1996 edition. The editors explore advanced nursing practice, its definition, competencies, roles, and issues facing APNs. The book is well written, comprehensive, and grounded in research. There are 39 appropriately credentialed contributors and 26 chapters. The liberal use of tables, figures, and algorithms enhance this text-dense volume. The stated goal is to propose a clear understanding of advanced nursing practice in both specialty and primary care roles and to ensure the APN's ability to proactively manage the practice environment. The book would be most useful to graduate students in APN roles and educators. As the title suggests, this integrative text is built around a core definition and conceptual model of advanced nursing practice. Six essential features are described: expert guidance and coaching of patients, families, and other health care providers; consultation; research skills, including utilization, evaluation, and conduct; clinical and professional leadership, including competence as a change agent; collaboration; and ethical decision-making skills. Though there is a clear bias toward the importance of clinical practice, each of these areas is developed separately in detail. In addition to reviews of the historical aspects of advanced nursing practice, individual chapter contributors address the roles of CNS, primary care NP, acute care NP, the blended CNS/NP role, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and the advanced practice nurse case manager. Broader discussions of change theory and systems theory would have enhanced the scholarly nature of this bookand provided future leaders with templates for facilitating change or analyzing their health care system to facilitate integration of change or modify systems to maximize patient care. Finally, clinical research and outcomes data are increasingly demanded to justify the quality and cost effectiveness of APN care. Much has been published since the 1999 data cited by most contributors, and as we enter 2001 the addition of this interim data would significantly enhance the importance of this volume for students, clinicians, educators, and administrators.

4 Stars! from Doody