NURS 6565 Week 5 Interprofessional Practice Essay Assignment

It is critical for nurse practitioners to view themselves as partners with physicians and other health care practitioners to improve the health and well-being of patients, families, and communities. “Interprofessional practice occurs when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care (NONPF, 2012).” It is imperative for nurses to collaborate with other health care practitioners to meet the complex needs of patients and communities (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2015. Research has demonstrated that when there is a collaborative approach to patient care, patients’ outcomes are better and patients report greater satisfaction in care. Interprofessional practice requires having the knowledge, skills, and confidence as an advanced practice nurse to work with other health care practitioners to better serve patients.

Patients are at the center of care, and health care practitioners must see themselves as partners in health care to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. This week we will focus on interprofessional practice and why it is critical for NPs and physicians to work together as a team to care for patients.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:

Analyze interprofessional practice
Apply concepts of interprofessional practice in a clinical setting
Create professional cover letters, resumes, and portfolios

Discussion: Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Advanced Practice Nurses

Interprofessional practice requires that health care practitioners recognize that patient outcomes are better when there is a collaborative team approach in addressing patient health issues. Also, there are barriers to interprofessional practice that must be addressed among health care practitioners. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) is an initiative including multiple professions designed to advance interprofessional education so that students entering health care professions are able to view collaboration as the norm and seek collaborative relationships with other providers (IPEC, 2011).

This week your Discussion will focus on interprofessional practice. This Discussion is an opportunity for you to examine your perspective and experiences with interprofessional collaborative practice and to apply your knowledge to managing patient care.

To prepare:

- Identify a professional nursing organization and review their position on interprofessional practice
- Review the following case study:

Case Study:

Ms. Tuckerno has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The patient receives care at an internal medicine clinic. Her internist is not in the office today and she is being treated by the nurse practitioner. The patient is on two medications for her MS, three different blood pressure medications, one medication for thyroid disease, one diabetic pill daily, insulin injections twice a day, she uses medical cannabis, and uses eye drops for glaucoma. Upon assessing the patient, the nurse practitioner (NP) decides her treatment plan should be adjusted. The NP discontinues some of the patient’s meds and discontinues medical cannabis. She orders the patient to follow up in two weeks.

The patient returns and is seen by her internist. The internist speaks with the patient and reviews her medical chart. The internist states to the patient, “I am dissatisfied with the care you received from the nurse practitioner.” The internist places the patient back on originally prescribed medications and medical cannabis.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of your understanding of interprofessional practice. Also, explain the position on interprofessional practice for a professional nursing organization that you are a member of or of which you plan to become a member. Then, explain what you think is the best collaborative approach to manage Ms. Tuckerno’s care.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 7

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who shared a different perspective than you did. Based on your personal and/or professional experiences, expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives.

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