Nursing

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Core Competencies
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The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Core Competencies
Upon graduation, nurse practitioners (NP) are expected to possess certain competencies. These core competencies were developed by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). They are not specific to any setting and they guide the curriculum of NPs to ensure they gain the necessary skills for effective patient care delivery. This paper discusses how the NP program has prepared me to meet each core competency.
1 Scientific Foundations
The scientific foundation competency area ensures that upon graduation, NPs have a well-established background and understanding of medical sciences as well as clinical practice guidelines and research (NONPF, 2017). The program has prepared me to meet this competency by introducing me to advanced pharmacology and pathophysiology as well as other scientific approaches that expand my medical knowledge and expertise. I have also become more conversant with evidence-based practice. Specifically, I have learned how to effectively develop a clinical question and PICOT questions as well as how to comprehensively appraise available evidence to identify the best evidence to improve the quality of care.
2 Leadership
This competency area focuses on ensuring that NPs, upon graduation, can lead healthcare teams in creating change through advocacy and collaboration (NONPF, 2017). This program has prepared me to meet this competency by honing my problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. Specifically, there were self-reflection assignments as part of the program that allowed me to reflect on my leadership style and skills. Also, as part of enhancing my problem-solving skills, I have learned how to manage change and resolve conflict during the change and conflict management courses.
3 Quality
This core competency area is concerned with ensuring that NPs can identify, access, and evaluate research findings to improve the quality of care. It also focuses on ensuring that NPs can apply the best available evidence in their practice to achieve the desired patient outcomes (NONPF, 2017). This program has prepared me in this area by enhancing my understanding of healthcare quality and how to improve it. For instance, I can now effectively identify the best evidence. I am also more conversant with the peer-review process and I can review findings from different researchers to help create credible, quality sources of clinical evidence.
4 Practice Inquiry
This core competency area focuses on ensuring that when NPs graduate from the program, they can competently apply newly generated knowledge and research into their clinical practice (NONPF, 2017). This program has prepared me to meet this competency in two main ways; one, it has improved how I search for literature and appraise evidence while investigating a clinical issue and two, it has enhanced my use of electronic databases to enhance my clinical practice. I am now more conversant with search strategies such as Boolean, thanks to the program. I can also competently present research findings to others.
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