TITLE: FRAILTY FOCUS: EMPOWERING RURAL HEALTH WITH ADVANCED NURSE
PRACTITIONERS: A DISCUSSION PAPER
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Background: Frailty is a multidimensional condition with
syndromes relating to falls, immobility, incontinence, impaired memory
and medication side-effects. With increasing numbers of frailty,
particularly in rural areas, healthcare systems are being challenged
globally. Moreover, frailty may be more common in rural communities as a
consequence of transportation issues, limited access to healthcare
services and health promotion activities. Advanced Nurse Practitioners
are ideally placed to undertake comprehensive geriatric assessments and
identify frailly syndromes. Aims: Explore the function of the advanced
Nurse Practitioner in managing people living with frailty in rural
areas, considering public health agendas and evidence-based practice.
Design: Discussion paper Key learnings: Frailty is linked to poorer
health outcomes, an excessive use of health resources and decreased
quality of life. Incorporating Advanced Nurse Practitioners into
integrated models of care and health improvement strategies, can improve
patient outcomes. Conclusion: Using advanced clinical and
decision-making skills, Advanced Nurse practitioners deliver
evidence-based care to improve patient safety and health outcomes.
Creating partnerships to enhance the provision of healthcare, they are
focused on frailty prevention, detection and providing support to
develop co-produced management plans to address individual needs. The
Advanced Nurse Practitioner has the ability to practice autonomously
within an expanded scope of clinical practice, making them the ideal
professional to support people living with frailty in rural areas.
Impact for Nursing: When thinking about future strategies for advanced
practice, it is important to acknowledge the lack of regulation,
inadequate title protection, role variability, and different educational
requirements. Organisations need to consider the enablers and barriers
of Advanced Nurse Practitioners fulfilling their duties. Advanced Nurse
practitioners are guided by public health agendas to improve the
population health of those in rural areas. ABSTRACT WORD COUNT: 278