Assignment Overview
In today’s health care system(s), the role of the nurse has expanded and changed over the years. For this written assignment, the RN to BSN nursing student will identify and explore a specific professional nurse role of their choice; one they may be interested in pursuing after completion of the RN to BSN nursing program.

To facilitate completion of the Professional Nurse Role written assignment, students will utilize the general written instructions, the scaffolding approach to writing, utilizing the RN-BSN Orientation and Resources: Module-7 Writing Tools, four peer reviewed journal articles published within the last 5 years at a minimum, the textbook readings, Pearson presentations, the sixth edition APA manual, Turn it in Revision Assistant and Turn it in. 

Assignment Objectives
Identify a specific Baccalaureate or Master’s prepared professional nurse role of self choice, this may be perhaps a professional nursing role which may be of interest in pursuing after completion of the RN to BSN nursing program.
Discuss and describe the setting and practice area of interest of the identified professional nurse role. 
Describe, discuss and explain the role of the self identified professional nurse, to include but not limited to:
The educational requirements and preparation, maintenance of license and life long learning,  the required certification or certifications if any, the scope of practice, the professional attributes and responsibilities which include ethical and legal accountability, communication skills, written and verbal skills, use of critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning, the use of clinical judgment and the impact on decision making skills, the types of supervisory and delegation this professional nurse makes and to whom, the type of inter professional collaboration this professional nurse encounters, the type of technology utilized, the nursing theorist this professional nurse may align with and the role evidence based practice plays in there professional nursing role.

In addition to the above, the following will be explored and addressed.

Discuss and compare the current salary range of the identified professional nursing role for the students’ state as well as 2 other states
Stress impacts all professional nurses identify three self care practices this professional nurse might do in order to care for her or himself. 
Deliverables

Utilizing appropriate Level Headings a 5 to 6 page (1,250 to 1,500 words) written assignment addressing the Professional Nurse Role will be completed. Note, number of pages or words does not include the Title page and Reference page

Written Assignment Instructions

Submission of the Professional Nurse Role written assignment is a 3 step process and utilizes a scaffolded approach to writing, see course schedule for due dates. 

Step 1.  Week 1, Writing Section

Introduction to a self selected Professional Nurse Role

Utilizing the RN-BSN Orientation and Resources: Module-7 Writing Tools, create Title page, Running Head, appropriate Level Headings and Reference page. The following questions will be utilize to begin, facilitate and guide the writing of the Introduction, and utilizing the questions found in Steps 2 and 3 begin to begin to outline the writing sections of Step 2 and Step 3.

Identify and describe the self selected professional nurse?
What setting(s) and practice does the identified nurse practice/participate in?
What type of service does this professional nurse provide in his/her chosen setting/practice?
What is this professional nurses scope of practice?
What type of duties would this professional nurse perform?
Does this professional nurse supervise and/or delegate?
Who does this professional nurse supervise and/or delegate to?
Who is this nurse accountable to?
Identify and discuss a nurse theorist this professional nurse might use in his/her setting/practice What types of technology might this professional nurse utilize to facilitate and enhance their decision making skills?
Evidence-based practice (EBP) guides the professional nurse in practice and impacts the care provided to patients. Identify and discuss how this professional nurse analyzes and implements EBP
What type of research would this professional nurse participate in?
How might this professional nurse incorporate technology into research and into their setting and practice in order to make a positive impact on patient outcomes.
Step 2. Weeks 1 through 4, Writing Section 

The Professional Nurse Role

What is the educational preparation required for this professional nurse?
Does this professional nurse require certification?
How does this nurse maintain certification; number & type of CEUs, license and competency?
What members of the inter professional team would this professional nurse interact, communicate, and collaborate with?
Identify and discuss where and when this professional nurse would interact, communicate and collaborate with inter professional team members.
The ability to write is important for nurses, describe the role of writing for this professional nurse and when would they utilize their writing skills?
Nurses need to process, analyze and make appropriate decisions; describe the critical thinking, clinical reasoning, clinical judgment and clinical decision making skills this professional nurse would utilize in his or her practice?
What factors would play a role and or influence this professional nurse’s clinical decisions?
How might these decision impact the quality of care of patients? and briefly explain any positive and or negative impacts.
Salary Range & Self Care Practices

Identify and discuss 3 self-care practices the identified professional Nurse could do to care for him or herself
Review the salary range(s) of this nurse; provide three comparisons (Texas, and two other states)
Step 3. Weeks 1 through 4, Writing Section

Summary and Reflection

Share thoughts, reflections and lessons learned regarding the writing about and research/interview of the chosen professional nurse role. Would you still pursue this role? Please explain why or why not. 

Step 4. Utilizing Revision Assistant Turn it in and Turn it in, ensure citations and references are accurate and are in sixth edition APA format.

Step 5. After the Final Draft has been submitted to Turn it in, final revisions have been made, save a copy in an easily accessible place and submit the Final Version of the Professional Nursing Role written assignment to Blackboard for grading.