Posted: August 31st, 2022

Reflect on the current roles of advanced practice nurses in healthcare

Reflect on the current roles of advanced practice nurses in healthcare as the care providers at the front line of disease management and health promotion in primary care and many other specialty settings. What do you think are some effective tactics for APN strategic positioning regarding pay equality? Should APNs position themselves as lower-cost providers who provide better care or push for comparable worth, same service, and same pay?
Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are key players in the healthcare industry, playing a central role in transforming healthcare by availing accessible healthcare, delivering reliable and quality healthcare services, and ensuring the provision of value-driven services. APNs are also centrally involved in the planning and development of various health initiatives, policies, and programs aimed at achieving continuous improvements in the access, value, and quality in the delivery of various health care services. But even though APNs provide somewhat similar services, their salaries tend to be quite distinct for various vague reasons. There still exists a notable persistent salary gap in the nursing profession. The major gap existing is based on a gender basis where male nurses are paid more than female nurses in the same position offering identical services.
As a result, APNs have developed various strategies that put them in a better position regarding pay equality. One of these tactics entails designing and implementing cost-effective health models that promote the maximum contribution of their resources. APNs are also diversely trained to effectively deliver a wide array of roles in numerous healthcare settings, putting them in a better position on pay equality. Another key approach used by APNs to achieve pay equality is by ensuring they are well represented in major decision-making committees in both government and private organizations. Like other professions, the nursing community also has a nursing body to represent them in panels, advocating for better working conditions, including equality pay that is not non-biased among all nursing professionals.
Advanced practice nurses do not and should not perceive themselves as lower-cost health care providers because they are adequately educated and trained and have the appropriate knowledge and skills to deliver quality healthcare services. Their capabilities in practice also improve with time, which calls for an increase in payment to enhance the utilization of their dynamic skills, and positively impact healthcare. As advanced practice nurses continue to give their undying healthcare contributions and ensure patient satisfaction, the payment regime should also be tailored to cater to the valuable contribution. Pay equality among APNs will enhance satisfaction and create better opportunities that motivate nurses to work in a manner that promotes innovation and growth in the profession.

Boxer, Rebecca, et al. “When women rise, we all rise: American Geriatrics Society position statement on achieving gender equity in geriatrics.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 67.12 (2019): 2447-2454.
Henkin, Megan M. Highly Educated Women Reflect on Advanced Education, Work, and Gender Pay Inequality. Diss. Fielding Graduate University, 2020.

Smith, Meg, and Gillian Whitehouse. “Wage-setting and gender pay equality in Australia: Advances, retreats and future prospects.” Journal of Industrial Relations (2020): 0022185620926220.

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