How Advanced Practice Nurses Can Expand Their Skills to Make Improvements in Patient Care Outcomes

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) established nine essential competencies established that have shaped the curriculum of most APN/APRN academic programs. These competencies are comprised of: (1) a nursing practice based on knowledge of science and humanities, (2) population health, (3) health policy and advocacy, (4) informatics and technology, (5) communication and collaborative practice, (6) systems-based leadership, (7) quality and safety, (8) evidence-based practice, and (9) advanced nursing practice. With a growing interest in the improvement of patient care outcomes to demonstrate the quality of care, advanced practice nurses must apply these competencies to assure they are integral to the achievement of their organization’s goals.

The nine competencies presented above require an expanded level of leadership as advanced practice nurses establish their careers. How can advanced practice nurses build on these competencies to meet organizational goals and the goal of improving patient care outcomes? Here are some areas in which advanced practice nurses can expand their skills to make improvements in patient care outcomes.