My professional goal as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner is improving health, function and quality of life with lower cost for the geriatric population. I believe this goal falls perfectly under the 7th essential goals: “Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health” in the AACN's "The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice" (2006).
I want to empower my clients with better health and function with my future knowledge in disease prevention after I graduate. I personally experienced how much difference this knowledge can make in patients’ health. My maternal grandfather, as my first remote controlled patient, was able to triumph over cancer and will enter his 3rd year in remission with my secondary disease prevention recommendation. Months …show more content…
Long term illnesses can profoundly threaten the quality of life, moreover they significantly rise the health care costs. Different than my maternal grandfather, my paternal grandfather did not conquer his prostate cancer and suffered heavily in his finance and the quality of life at the end of his life. He was a pharmacist and owned his own business; however, after he passed away, his medical bills left almost no saving for my grandmother. His long battle with cancer always made me think that if his cancer could have been discovered at an earlier stage, he might have had less surgeries, a better end of life experience, and leave behind more financial stability for my grandmother. My grandfather is not a unique case; many older adults are facing the same financial burden. I want to potentially free my clients from these situations through better health and life planning. In this way, further damage can be avoided, the quality of life will be soon restored and eventually the monetary amount spent on health care can be