Transitioning from Registered Nursing
The challenges that one faces when transitioning from a registered nurse to a nursing advanced practice role can be overcome using various strategies, one of which is mentoring. Although registered nurses have the skills and experience needed to transition into the advanced roles, they lack the knowledge needed to comfortably perform the new tasks (Fitzgerald et al, 2012). Mentors can therefore play a significant role in helping to adapt and teach them the basic skills needed to make smooth transitions. The mentors should be medical professionals who are not only in the nursing advanced practice roles but also those that are competent and can guide the registered nurses during the transition.
Another strategy that can be used is problem based learning where the registered nurses engage with professionals in the advanced nursing roles and explore different concepts and ways of performing duties (Fitzgerald et al, 2012). Problem based learning helps the registered nurses to develop critical thinking and further enhances the skills they us to assess hypothesis which aids in improving decision making. Since problem based learning exposes the registered nurses in transition to real life clinical experiences, they are able to learn under the supervision of those in the advanced practices (Elite Learning, 2015). Improved judgment and operational knowhow can help make the transition better as the registered nurses in transition will have the confidence and skills needed to adapt faster.
Simulation is another strategy that can be used to ease the transition as it creates real life events that the registered nurses can learn from. Since simulation is only a depiction of the actual environment that the registered nurses will be working on, it enhances confidence and encourages learning especially because those going through it are aware that any mistakes made will not have any consequences (Fitzgerald et al, 2012). By creating simulations about the nature of environment the registered nurses will be working in after the transition, the strategy allows for faster learning and exposure to the new tasks without the consequences of making errors in real life settings.
References
Elite Learning, (2015) “RN to NP role transition” retrieved from, https://www.elitecme.com/resource-center/nursing/rn-to-np-role-transition/
Fitzgerald C, Kantrowitz-Gordon I, Katz J, and Hirsch A, “Advanced Practice Nursing Education: Challenges and Strategies,” Nursing Research and Practice, vol. 2012, Article ID 854918, 8 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/854918.
