Table Of ContentAdvanced Practice in Nursing
Under the Auspices of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)
Series Editor: Christophe Debout
Maria Kidner
Successful
Advanced
Practice Nurse
Role Transition
A Structured Process to Developing
Professional Identity through Role
Transition
Advanced Practice in Nursing
Under the Auspices of the International Council
of Nurses (ICN)
Series Editor
Christophe Debout, GIP-IFITS
Health Chair Sciences- Po Paris/IDS UMR Inserm 1145
Paris, France
This series of concise monographs, endorsed by the International Council of Nurses,
explores various aspects of advanced practice nursing at the international level.
The ICN International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network
definition has been adopted for this series to define advanced practice nursing: “A
Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse is a registered nurse who has acquired
the expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical
competencies for expanded practice, the characteristics of which are shaped by the
context and/or country in which s/he is credentialed to practice. A master’s degree
is recommended for entry level.”
At the international level, advanced practice nursing encompasses two
professional profiles:
Nurse practitioners (NPs) who have mastered advanced practice nursing, and are
capable of diagnosing, making prescriptions for and referring patients. Though they
mainly work in the community, some also work in hospitals. Clinical nurse
specialists (CNSs) are expert nurses who deliver high-quality nursing care to
patients and promote quality care and performance in nursing teams.
The duties performed by these two categories of advanced practice nurses on an
everyday basis can be divided into five interrelated roles:
Clinical practice
Consultation
Education
Leadership
Research
The series addresses four topics directly related to advanced practice nursing:
APN in practice (NPs and CNSs)
Education and continuous professional development for advanced practice nurses
Managerial issues related to advanced practice nursing
Policy and regulation of advanced practice nursing
The contributing authors are mainly APNs (NPs and CNSs) recruited from the
ICN International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nursing Network. They
include clinicians, educators, researchers, regulators and managers, and are
recognized as experts in their respective fields.
Each book within the series reflects the fundamentals of nursing / advanced
practice nursing and will promote evidence-based nursing.
More information about this series at https://link.springer.com/bookseries/13871
Maria Kidner
Successful Advanced
Practice Nurse Role
Transition
A Structured Process to Developing
Professional Identity through Role
Transition
Maria Kidner
LEAP Leadership
Lander, WY, USA
ISSN 2511-3917 ISSN 2511-3925 (electronic)
Advanced Practice in Nursing
ISBN 978-3-030-53001-3 ISBN 978-3-030-53002-0 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53002-0
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Preface
The development of this book came about from an opportunity and honor to work
on the preparation for the new Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) role for the Kingdom
of Bahrain in 2018. As I pondered the path of becoming an advanced practice nurse
and the process of role transition, I recognized that many nurses expanding their
education to the APN level are already strong nurses yet are anxious about the new
role of APN. This increased APN role transition stress is often related to the
increased accountability, responsibility, and authority required upon entering the
APN practice. Thus, understanding APN role transition, finding a deeper under-
standing of who one is as an APN, becoming attached to the profession of APN, and
developing the skills of each aspect of the APN role became the focus of this book.
From 2014 to 2019 I developed a process which nurses can gain an understanding
about self and working relationships. This process grew from my work in Guyana,
South America and Rwanda, Africa. It is called the LEAP Process, which stands for
“Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Professionalism.” As I wove the top-
ics of role transition and leadership together, I recognized there needs to be an
enhanced understanding of our self-concept and professional identity as APN to
improve successful APN role transition. Topics of self-concept, self-efficacy, per-
sonal identity, professional identity, and role transition are often not included in
formal APN education. I wanted to write a book that would provide APNs the steps
to build the skills needed for a successful APN role transition. It is the concepts and
process of becoming our best that I want to share with all APN students, faculty,
and nurses.
This book was written to guide APN students through their role transition from a
generalist nurse to the APN role. To successfully accomplish this APN role transi-
tional process, students need to understand first there is an evidence-based process
which students experience role transition; and second there are skills and activities
that can aid in the development of one’s professional identity, build a positive self-
concept, and role transition with less stress.
Self-reflection is key to help APN students to review their self-concept while
gaining an understanding about their potential influences on being an advanced
practice nurse, leading teams, and making changes. Understanding oneself helps a
person to embrace their chosen professional role to be strong during times of push-
back, confusion, and poor support. I have drawn on my personal nursing experi-
ences including labor and delivery, medical-surgical hospital nursing, and as an
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vi Preface
APN in emergency, primary care, and cardiology. My international work in Guyana,
South America, Rwanda, Africa, and Vietnam has greatly enriched my nursing and
ability to develop this book. My experiences within many healthcare professional
organizations widened my understanding of APN influence and impact. My mem-
berships involvement in nursing and social organizations increased my understand-
ing of the importance of professional and community involvement. My experiences
as an educator, clinical instructor, autonomous healthcare provider, and as an entre-
preneur have provided me opportunities to build, present, and evaluate educational
material along with partnering with students on their professional identity journeys.
Lander, WY, USA Maria Kidner
Acknowledgments
The construction of this book, from the mist of my thoughts to written words on a
page, has been a multifaceted effort over many years as I explored the adventures
life placed before me. I will start my list of indebted gratitude with my father who
many decades ago inspired me to look at leadership as guiding others to become
their best. Next would be my mentor, Dr. Michael Zychowicz, who mentored me
through a clinical strategic plan project through the American Association of Nurse
Practitioners in 2009. He taught me the importance of understanding myself and
recognizing my impact on others.
This book commenced after a discussion with Dr. Madrean Schober who sug-
gested to solidify my ideas of role transition and professional identity as integral
parts of pre-leadership needs. Thus, this book was born. I am deeply humbled and
indebted to those who spent many hours reading and sharing their ideas, concerns,
and suggestions on this book. I especially want to mention Dr. Madrean Schober,
Dr. Mary Beth Stepans, and Kathy Pappas who read every word and discussed every
chapter to provide mentorship and lively conversations.
This book could not have come together without the innumerable hours other
nurse educators, practicing clinicians, and nurse leaders provided to me in reading,
correcting, and sharing insights throughout the entire process. These include: edu-
cators Dr. Mary Burman, Dr. Kathy Wheeler, Dr. Deb Gray, Dr. Kristina Davis, Dr.
Savitri Singh-Carlson, Dr. Barb Turner, and Dr. Judith Berg; nurse practitioners
Mary Behrens, Alicia LePard, and Lukia DeWitt Beverly; international consultant
Dr. Madrean Schober; my international colleagues Mr. Hai Ngo Thanh (Vietnam),
Heather McGrath (Jamaica), Martin Nsengimana (Rwanda), Christian Ntakirutimana
(Rwanda), and Bonisile Nsibandze (Eswati); and DNP students Adrienne Reddick,
Kenita Murray, and Jessica Wallace. A special thanks to Dr. Hillary Barnes and the
many emails we shared.
I would also like to point out the graphic artwork in this book is by graphic artist,
Derek Rake, who devoted hours translating my ideas to graphic models. My deepest
thanks and admiration of his work.
Lastly, yet profoundly important, is my thanks and appreciation to my husband
who patiently supported me through the numerous hours I spent on the computer,
reading literature, and taking notes as we travelled and at home. I often had my
computer and headset on while in the car, in hotels, at family events, and at home.
Martin knew when to let me type and when to pull me a way for a needed break or
vii
viii Acknowledgments
when to lift my head to witness a grand sunset, or majestic scenery as we travelled.
Thank you, everyone for guiding and supporting me through the wonderful and
detailed experience of writing a book for APNs. I am honored.
About This Book
Message to Readers
It is my intent to find ways to inspire you to be curious about the topics presented in
this book. I want to provide you with ideas about forming your opinions and
thoughts with subsequent paths for you to follow to develop your personal strengths,
values, vision, and mission. Building upon your personal ideas, you will then
expand how you encounter others as an APN clinical leader (both formal and infor-
mal) with your social influences building on the enhanced responsibility, account-
ability, and authority of an APN.
I have read many books on leadership and a common process is to tell the reader
“what” they should obtain or do (“you should have your own values” or “you should
build capacity of others”). Yet many books do not tell you how to gain the skill! I
have designed this book to help you find the skills needed for your successful APN
role transition. To accomplish this, I have provided you many activities and ample
space to write your thoughts, plans, and ideas. In the simple act of writing, you will
greatly increase your chance of success.
I recognize the amount of time it will take to answer every question. By writing
your thoughts you will increase your ability to become a stronger, wiser clinician
and leader. Please write, doodle, draw pictures, make comments, and use this book
as much as your creative heart inspires you to do as you become who you are meant
to be. Then keep this book in your bookcase and every year open it and review your
words to keep your plans active along with gaining knowledge of your growth from
novice to expert. Should you want to share your journey of role transitions with me,
please feel free to contact me.
Dr. Maria Kidner
[email protected]
This book provides you with insights concerning:
• The APN role and scope of practice.
• The importance of understanding your country’s laws and regulations concern-
ing the APN role.
• The common processes of APN role transition through a concept analysis.
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