ocus on outcomes achievement
3. to foster early discharge from health care facilities and programs
4. to increase efficient use of health care resources
5. to improve professional satisfaction with practice.
These general parameters encompass the fundamental goals and objectives of the case management strategy as it applies to the roles of the APN. APNs today are intimately involved in primary prevention, health promotion and comprehensive primary health care (Burgener & Moore, 2002). The role of the APN has expanded to include new responsibilities and roles that link all four aspects of the function û from education to research to clinical practice to case management and consultation û into a single integrated function. However, in this report, the intersection between clinical practice and case management/consultation will be emphasized.
Davidson (1999, pp. 77-78) further identified the
advantages of Family Nurse Practitioners as case managers as
* provide initial evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment
* have health promotion and disease prevention-based background
* provide immediate counseling and education
* offer collaborative practice-based setting
* provide risk assessment to families and communities
* primary care level of intervention.
These roles are seen by Kowal (1998) as reflecting the new status of the APN as an important element in the care system in which family practice is presented. Kowal (1998) positioned the APN in the family practice setting as an "intrapreneur" who is capable of standing alone as a self-directed, independent professional capable of making change happen. The APN, as a clinician and a case manager or consultant, is able to fit into an integrated patient care delivery system, function effectively within the operational structure of an organization or practice, and activate an ongoing commitment to evaluation of programs.
Additionally...