Application and Integration of AACN Synergy Care
Model In Clinical Practice
Application and Integration of AACN Synergy Care model in Clinical Practice
Objective of this paper is to discuss the integration and application of AACN Synergy Care model in Clinical Practice. The paper discusses the background of the model, philosophical underpinning the model is based and strategic knowledge used to formulate the model to enhance greater understanding on the application of the model in clinical practice.
Synopsis of the Theory's Background
American Association of Critical Care's (AACN) is based on the mutual advantages that patients and families would drive from the nurse's competencies. The core concept of AACN is that the needs and characteristics of patients and the family will be influenced by the competencies and characteristics of nurses. In early 1990s, leaders of AACN embarked on journey to define a new model that would guide nursing practice and ultimately confer certification for nursing care. A task force led by Dr. Martha A.Q. Curley constructed an organizational framework that would enhance the value of the nursing practice. The task orientation also enhanced essential relationship between patients and nurses with relation to healthcare. The formulation of the model is based on the premises that patient's outcome could be optimized when the nurses' competencies are able to match patient's characteristics. (Brewer et al. 2007).
The historical evolution of the AACN model started in 1993, when a think tank convened to develop a conceptual framework that would enhance certified nursing practice. The think tank consisted of nationally recognized experts and scholars including Martha A. Q Curley, Patricia Hooper, and Mairead Hickey. The philosophical thinking underlying the formulation of AACN model is based on the believe of think tank members who decide that certified practice should be based on meting the needs of patients. (Kaplow & Reed 2008).The AACN model rests on the premises that "optimal outcomes result from the synergy of a nurse's competencies matching the needs of patients and their families." (Hamrick, 2010 P. 2).
The AACN model describes eight characteristics of patient and measures them as high, medium, and low-acute patients. The eight patient characteristics include vulnerability, resiliency, complexity, stability, availability, resource participation in care, predictability, and participation in decision-making. The model also describes eight nurse competencies, which include caring practices, advocacy and moral agency, clinical judgment, systems thinking, collaboration, response to diversity, clinical inquiry and facilitation of learning. According to AACN model, when patient characteristics and nurse competencies are able to match patients' outcome, there would be a satisfaction for patient and family.
Brewer et al. (2007) contribute to the argument by pointing out the philosophy underpinning guiding the birth of AACN synergy model rests on the believe that there is a need for an ultimate certification in nursing practice that would measure value within the nursing practice and the measurement will move nursing practice towards essential relationship between nurses and patients. The AACN model is based on the premises that patient outcome could be optimized when patients characteristics match nurse competencies. The strategies employed in formulating the model are to define the specific characteristics of patients and specific knowledge and competencies that nurses must possess. Table 1 reveals eight patient's characteristics and eight nurse's competencies that would bring out patient's outcome.
Characteristics of Patients
Competencies of Nurse
Resiliency
Ability to rebound after an injury. Patient's capacity to return into a restorative level using a compensatory coping mechanism.
Clinical judgment -- Clinical reasoning should be employed by healthcare providers to enhance healthcare delivery. Critical reasoning includes nursing skills, critical thinking acquired through experiential knowledge, integrating education, and evidence-based guidelines. The knowledge integration will enhance the clinical decisions when delivering care to patients.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability could be affected through patient's physiological makeup as well as health behaviors exhibited by the patient. Moreover, patient's ability to maintain a stability and steady state of equilibrium. Thus, response to intervention of nurses could affect patient's stability.
Advocacy -- Working on other's behalf when other is not capable of advocating for him- or herself. The nurse needs to serve as a moral agent in helping to resolve and identify clinical and ethical concerns within the clinical setting.
Stability
Patient's ability to respond to therapies by maintaining a steady state of equilibrium. Response to nursing interventions and therapies could affect patient's stability.
Caring practices -- Nursing interventions could create a supportive, therapeutic and compassionate environment for patients and staff. The aim is to promote healing and comfort as well as preventing unnecessary suffering for patients. Caring should include vigilance, compassion, responsiveness and engagement to patient and family.
Complexity
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