Posted: October 25th, 2023

Reflecting on the Advanced Practice Nursing Role

Discussion Reflection Response – Advanced Practice Nursing Model. Start with why you wanted to be a nurse originally; what does nursing mean to you? Describe the APN role that you are pursuing at South and why you chose this role—add a personal story to illustrateGuidelines: In your discussion response, provide a substantive response that illustrates a well-reasoned and thoughtful response. Reflective posts provide you an opportunity to think back on the concepts and materials you reviewed for the week. A reflection is a method for personal growth. A reflection post can help answer questions, such as, “How has my thinking changed this past week?”, “How can I use the concepts or relationships from the course readings and course content in my practice?” Reflection enhances personal and professional growth by making connections to previous course content and/or presenting novel ideas and insights.

Reflecting on the Advanced Practice Nursing Role

Nursing has always centered around empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. As a profession, it emphasizes clinical expertise, empathy, advocacy and holistic care management. From the beginning of my career, I was drawn to nursing’s problem-solving nature and opportunity to form meaningful connections with diverse populations. This paper will reflect on my reasons for pursuing the advanced practice nursing (APN) role at South University and how it aligns with my values and experiences in nursing thus far.
Motivations for the APN Role

In previous nursing roles, I often encountered social determinants like lack of access to resources, services and transportation that hindered patient care and health outcomes (Bridges et al., 2019). The APN program at South specifically appeals to me due to its focus on care coordination, leadership, health promotion and equity. These skills are needed to address gaps in healthcare and empower underserved communities. A formative experience providing prenatal care reinforced this, as social and cultural barriers negatively impacted outcomes. Connecting patients to supports and advocating for accommodations improved results (Bridges et al., 2019; Jenkins et al., 2020). This experience reinforced that relationship-based, holistic care is paramount – especially for vulnerable groups. As an APN, I hope to continue prioritizing health promotion while dismantling barriers through community partnerships and culturally-responsive practice.
Focus on Cultural Competency and Equity
The South APN program aligns well with my goal of providing culturally-aware, equitable care. A meaningful experience highlighted the need for culturally-sensitive services and belief accommodation, such as addressing transportation barriers or integrating traditional practices. I am interested in women’s health initiatives considering such factors to improve outcomes (Bridges et al., 2019). As APNs can work to their full scope, I aim to navigate systems, coordinate care and advocate for the removal of systemic obstacles faced by underserved populations (Jenkins et al., 2020). This advanced role will allow me to further develop as a leader focused on holistic, relationship-centered practice and health equity.
Conclusion
In summary, the APN role at South aligns with my values of empowering individuals and communities through compassionate, skilled and equitable care. Formative experiences in nursing reinforced the need for addressing social barriers and providing culturally-responsive services. As an APN, I hope to continue prioritizing health promotion and dismantling challenges to care through leadership, advocacy and partnership. The program’s emphasis on care coordination, cultural competency and equity is well-suited for achieving my goals in nursing. I am grateful for the opportunity to further develop as a culturally-aware clinician and advocate through this program.
Bridges, D., Davidson, R. A., Odegard, P. S., Maki, I. V., & Tomkowiak, J. (2019). Interprofessional collaboration on behavioral health in primary care. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000176-000
Jenkins, C. M., Leach, B., Laharnar, N., Pickerel, G., & Dawkins, N. (2020). Tracking progress: Achieving health equity. APHA Press. https://doi.org/10.2105/9780875532868ch003