APN Professional Development Plan
Student Name
Chamberlain University College of Nursing
NR500NP: Foundational Concepts and
Applications Professor Name
January 31, 2021
, 2
APN Professional Development Plan
An advanced practice nurse is a nurse who has received his or her master’s degree in a
specified field of study. An APRN has a wide range of responsibilities within their scope of
practice, including assessing, diagnosing, treating diseases and illnesses, and prescribing
medications. To acquire the knowledge to implement the greatest delivery of care, the NONPF
developed core competencies that a nurse practitioner should follow and obtain to have
successful patient outcomes. One of those core competencies includes leadership which is a
crucial piece in being a nurse practitioner. The objective of this paper is to understand the nurse
practitioner practice requirements in Iowa, and to review the nurse practitioner competencies and
leadership skills, as well as reflecting on what can be personally done to emerge a professional
development plan for success in a master’s degree program.
APN Scope of Practice
According to The Iowa Legislature Administrative Code, chapter 6, an advanced practice
registered nurse is a nurse who has an active nursing license in the state of Iowaand also has a
registered license in an advanced practice role. “The APRN is prepared for an advanced role by
virtue of additional knowledge and skills gained through a formal advanced practice education
program of nursing in a specialty area approved by the board. In the advanced role, the nurse
practices nursing assessment, interventions, and management within the boundaries of the nurse-
client relationship” (The Iowa Legislature, 2021). The scope of practice for an APRN in Iowa
includes assessment of patient’s health, obtaining medical, health, and family history, ordering
diagnostic studies and laboratory testing, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses,
educating patients and their families, prescribing and administering medications, and promote
healthy lifestyles.