What do you think is the greatest advantage and the greatest disadvantage of independent NP practice? Why do you think that?
The greatest advantage of NP independent practice or full practice authority is the provision of cost-effective, high-quality care (Hahn & Cook, 2018). I think so because when nurse practitioners are given full practice authority, they can advance their profession. They seek the market gaps and get access to nursing expertise, hence bring true innovation. Note that full practice authority means that all barriers are removed and therefore they can expand the scope of practice and meet the education and practice requirements (Hahn & Cook, 2018). Through engaging in education and training, NP can bring better care and better health and low cost. I believe the great advantage is having the ability to provide high-quality care to patients with chronic health issues (Hahn & Cook, 2018). NP are excited to innovate new ways for cost-effective care. They apply their clinical skills and knowledge to bring change in the healthcare industry.
Disadvantage
The great disadvantage of NP independent practice is the lack of a nurse-doctor relationship. I think so because the independent practice has created a professional boundary where there is no sharing of knowledge (Pritchard, 2017). Now, health care management has become a sole profession. I believe that health care management should be a partnership between a doctor and nurse but the practice of giving NP full potential has resulted in conflict in the doctor-nurse relationship (Pritchard, 2017). Even though the full practice authority allows nurses to explore creative pursuits, there is a big disadvantage in that nurse and doctor no longer work together. It seems like doctors have lost their medical authority and the power have been given to nurses and this raises the concerns of safety, and doctors' authority and power.
References
Hahn, J. A., & Cook, W. (2018). Lessons Learned from Nurse Practitioner Independent Practice:
A Conversation with a Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur. Nursing Economics, (1), 18. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.529490138&site=eds-live
Pritchard, M. J. (2017). Is it time to re-examine the doctor-nurse relationship since the
introduction of the independent nurse prescriber? Australian Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 35(2), 31–37. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=126664781&site=eds-live
