Reflection on Transitioning
This week we will be reflecting on your progression on transiting to the advanced practice role.
The transition from Professional Registered Professional Nurse (RN) to Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APN) is often a stressful career change. Reflect on factors that influence role transition and how best to mitigate the transition toward alteration in professional identity, loss of confidence, and novice APN development.
Please note:
This is a reflection and therefore no references are needed nor expected.
Sample Answer
Reflection on Transitioning
Transitioning from a novice RN level of the nursing profession to a more expert APRN level is challenging. Various factors influenced my decision to join the APRN program for improved professionalism. A personal goal is one of the factors because it was my dream to achieve the highest level of expertise in nursing care, and thus joining the higher-level education programs would boost my skills and expertise. I am also driven by the desire to provide high-quality clinical care to the patients and the general community, and in understanding the value of education in improving the quality of patient care, I decided to join higher levels of education. Lastly, high levels of quality demand and competition for higher remunerating positions within the market influenced my decision to join higher education for APRN certification. Various opportunities come up with an APRN licensure, and thus this was an important factor in considering transitioning to the APRN licensure.
Transitioning from an RN to APRN can be met with some challenges, such as professional identity and loss of personal confidence. The alteration in professional identity involves changing roles and perceptions from the previous RN identity to APRN. In facing this challenge, I have been actively engaging the APRNs and instructors for coaching and mentorship that would enable me to effectively adapt to the new APRN roles, challenges, and practices. Newness to the professional level limits my level of confidence in practicing various roles and capacities. In improving confidence levels, I have been engaging peer professionals and reading key APRN materials on how to effectively match with the new expectations. In APN novice development, I have actively engaged my peers and experts in learning and adopting the new roles.
