ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER Dr.

. Patricia Benner introduced the concept that expert nurses develop skills and understanding of patient care over time through a sound educational base as wel l as a multitude of experiences.

 .Beginner with no experience. Taught general rules to help perform tasks. Recogn ized as being taskoriented and focused. Rules are: context-free, independent of specific cases, and applied universally. Rule-governed behavior is limited and i nflexible.

Advanced Beginner Demonstrates acceptable independent performance. Has gained prior experience in actual situations to recognize recurring meaningful components. Principles, base d on experiences, begin to be formulated to guide actions.

Competent Typically a nurse with 2-3 years experience on the job in the same area or in si milar day-to-day situations. More aware of long-term goals. Gains perspective fr om planning own actions based on conscious, abstract, and analytical thinking an d helps to achieve greater efficiency and organization.

 Perceives and understands situations as a whole rather than as series of tasks. More holistic understanding improves decision-making. Learns from experiences wh at to expect in certain situations and how to modify plans.

 No longer relies on principles, rules, or guidelines to connect situations and d etermine actions. Much more background of experience; Has intuitive grasp of cli nical situations; Performance is now fluid, flexible, and highlyproficient.

are advanced practice registered nurses who have received special courses and tr aining. She is skilled at making nursing assessments, performing P. E., counseli ng, teaching and treating minor and self- limiting illness.

 Taking detailed medical histories and performing complete physical exams. Provid ing diagnoses and recommending treatment plans. Treating common medical conditio ns, illnesses, and injuries. Prescribing limited medications. Counseling patient s and families.

CAREER PLANNING

 The career planning and development process provides a guide to help you to achi eve your dreams and to create new possibilities as you build your nursing career . Career is what we choose as our profession, our path, or our lifes work. You ch ose your path when you accepted admission into your nursing program, and your nu rsing career began the day you attended your school of nursing orientation.

BEGINNING A JOB SEARCH 1st Step: Scanning your Environment 2nd Step: Your Self-assessment and Reality C heck 3rd Step: Creating your Career Vision 4th Step: Creating your Strategic Car eer Plan 5th Step: Marketing Yourself

1st Step: Scanning your Environment It is simply taking a good look around to determine how the world around you can help you to both develop and achieve your career goals. Scanning the environmen t, together with knowledge of strengths and interests you have developed to date in your nursing program, offers you information about potential nursing practic e opportunities.

3rd Step: Creating your Career Vision It requires that you take the knowledge and skills you have developed in creatin g learning plans and client care plans and apply it to your nursing career. The main difference is that you are doing this for yourself- not to fulfill course r equirements, client needs, or the expectations of others. It is your action guid e that is unique and personal.

5th Step: Marketing Yourself It is being able to communicate your strengths, interests and goals with confide nce and clarity. It is much easier when your approach genuinely reflects your va lues, your communication style, and is true to your abilities. The interview pro cess is a significant marketing strategy as well.

Sources Job Leads

 Employment Developm ent Department Civil Service Announce ments Trade Associatio ns & Tra de Publications

 Newspaper Advertisem ents Local Newspaper Friends Canvassing School Placement Se rvices

 UnionFriends, Relatives & Neighbors Teachers, Religious Adviso rs, Insurance Agen ts, Cred itors, Bankers Radio, T.V., Newspapers & Magazine Stories of New or Exp anding Companies Communications Media job Bulletin Board