This book is a Fast Facts for students considering the NP track, NP students, and new NPs - a quick all-in-one read that features what you "really need to know"about NP education and practice. It incorporates humor and real-life examples, useful tips, comparative salary tables, and other ready to access resources, such as professional organizations, networks, associations, and websites. Included is discussion on the history of the nurse practitioner (NP) role and the coming practice degree, the DNP. It contains insight coming directly from experts in the field. Key Features The "all-in-one," fast facts for potential or current NP students and newly practicing NPs Explores reasons to become a nurse practitioner Clarifies NP education hurdles: from choosing the right program to selecting the best clinical preceptor, and more Offers suggestions on how to survive the first year of practice Discuses contractual relationships with institutions, doctors and related health providers Outlines legal/malpractice issues Explores the DNP degree as the coming mandate for NP practice Features personal stories from the author and colleagues in a straight-from-the-shoulder style Includes check lists to facilitate important decision making, and charts/tables with "hot topics" or key elements
Author(s): Dr. Nadine Aktan Ph.D. RN FNP-BC
Edition: 1
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 224
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 10
Preface......Page 14
Acknowledgments......Page 18
Part I: Making the Decision......Page 20
1 Why Become a Nurse Practitioner?......Page 22
2 How to Begin......Page 28
Part II: Selecting an Educational Program......Page 32
3 Types of Programs......Page 34
4 Scholarships, Resources, and More!......Page 42
Part III: Finding the Right Clinical Preceptor......Page 48
5 Important Things to Consider......Page 50
6 Balancing It All!......Page 58
Part IV: Searching for a Mentor......Page 64
7 What to Look for......Page 66
8 You as a Mentor!......Page 72
Part V: Attaining Your Certification and Licensure......Page 76
9 Who? What? Where?......Page 78
10 Passing!......Page 84
11 What Comes Next?......Page 92
Part VI: Surviving and Thriving: Your First Year in Practice......Page 98
12 First Job......Page 100
13 Role Transition......Page 106
14 Friends and Enemies......Page 116
Part VII: Administrative Issues......Page 122
15 Bureaucracy......Page 124
16 Discrimination......Page 132
17 Institutional Violence......Page 138
Part VIII: Understanding Legal Issues......Page 148
18 Contracts......Page 150
19 Malpractice......Page 160
20 Avoiding Lawsuits......Page 164
Part IX: Ensuring a Collaborative Practice......Page 174
21 The Collaborative Agreement......Page 176
22 Selecting a Collaborative Physician......Page 180
Part X: You're in Charge......Page 184
23 Prescriptive Authority......Page 186
24 Diagnostics......Page 194
25 Referrals......Page 198
Part XI: Economics and Policy......Page 204
26 The Nurse Practitioner and Our National Healthcare System......Page 206
Part XII: Into the Future......Page 212
27 The Doctor of Nursing Practice......Page 214
D......Page 218
I......Page 219
P......Page 220
V......Page 221
