APN Professional Development Plan Student Name Chamberlain University College of Nursing NR500NP: Foundational Concepts and Applications Professor Name January 31st 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. An APRN must have graduated from an accredited advance practice nurse program that is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing in the specified area as a certified nurse practitioner. An advanced practice nurse must maintain a license that is unrestricted and certification from an organization that is approved by the Iowa board in the area of specialty and must maintain the certification while having an active practicing license. As an APRN in Iowa, the license allows for full practice and use of the license, including the ability to practice independently. APRNs are also able to prescribe and administer drugs, devices, and controlled substances within the specialty age population and in accordance with laws in which includes having active Drug Enforcement Administration and Controlled Substances Act registrations for the prescribing and administration of any kind of controlled substances. Nurse Practitioner (NONPF) Core Competencies The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties created a list of competencies that are pertinent among all nurse practitioners in which they must be able to demonstrate while in nurse practitioner school and apply into practice. These competencies are designed for students to gain the knowledge and skills to fully practice as a nurse practitioner.