I agree with you that APNs are well placed to assist, encourage and support their patients to promote healthy choices and prevent diseases. To provide quality outcomes for the patients, health care providers must have set goals and a plan to enact behavior change. According to Davies (2011), effective communication, collaboration and goal-setting, empowers patients to take responsibility for their health and their lifestyle behaviors. The 5 A’s approach (assess, advice, agree, assist, and arrange) provides a framework for behavior change interactions. The APN assess patients’ awareness of unhealthy behaviors and thein need to change. The next step is they advice the patient on risks and benefits related with their behavior and available support
