Description

Choose one (1) from EACH category below:

Reflect over the past eight weeks and describe how achieving the course outcomes have prepared you to meet 1 Program Outcome, 1 MSN Essential and 1 Nurse Practitioner core competency. Provide a specific example for each category.

MSN Program Outcome

1. Provide high quality, safe, patient-centered care grounded in holistic health principles.
2. Create a caring environment for achieving quality health outcomes.
3. Engage in lifelong personal and professional growth through reflective practice and appreciation of cultural diversity.

MSN Essential

1. Background for Practice from Science and Humanities
2. Quality Improvement and Safety
3. Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
4. Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health

Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies

a. Scientific Foundation Competencies

These competencies ensure that nurse practitioners graduate with a comprehensive background in medical sciences. All nurse practitioner students are required to take foundational pathophysiology and pharmacology, but depending on their specialty, they may take additional courses. Psychiatric nurse practitioners often take courses in neuroscience whereas neonatal nurse practitioners take courses in neonatology. Scientific core competencies also include knowledge and understanding of clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based practice, translational research, and treatment of vulnerable and diverse patient populations.

The scientific foundation core competencies defined by the NONPF include the following:

1. Critically analyzes data and evidence for improving advanced nursing practice.
2. Integrates knowledge from the humanities and sciences within the context of nursing science.
3. Translates research and other forms of knowledge to improve practice processes and outcomes.
4. Develops new practice approaches based on the integration of research, theory, and practice knowledge.

b. Quality Competencies

Quality care, as defined by the NONPF, refers to the degree to which health services increase the desired health outcomes consistent with professional knowledge and standards. Quality competencies focus on understanding how to access and use information databases and how to critically evaluate research findings.

The quality core competencies include the following:

1. Uses best available evidence to continuously improve quality of practice.
2. Evaluates the relationships among access, cost, quality and safety and their influence on health care.
3. Evaluates how organizational structure, care processes, financing, marketing, and policy decisions impact the quality of health care.
4. Applies skills in peer review to promote a culture of excellence. 5.Anticipates variations in practice and is proactive in implementing interventions to ensure quality.