To achieve excellence in nursing care, TriHealth encourages: pursuit of improved knowledge through continuing education classes, formal education leading to advanced degrees, and the attainment of specialty certification; nurse membership in local, regional, and national nursing organizations related to the appropriate nurse specialty; involvement in activities that better the health of our community; nursing research activities and use of evidence-based practice, and all nurses to foster, support, and personally model collaborative relationships amongst nurses, physicians, and other caregivers for the betterment of patient care. Advanced clinical practice in nursing includes the following components: assessment of patient health status, diagnostic testing, diagnoses, development of treatment plans, implementation of treatment plans, follow-up and evaluation of the patient''s response to treatment, accurate documentation of the patient''s status, and patient advocacy.