Nursing continues to be an ever-growing field within the healthcare system, and the use of family nurse practitioners (FNPs) is becoming quite popular. With the recent shortage of primary care physicians, many individuals are turning to FNPs for quality and comprehensive primary care services in both conventional hospitals and community-based practices. As a result, FNPs have had to expand their skill sets by obtaining additional certifications to better meet the needs and demands of their patients in the various practice areas. This article aims to teach you what some of those FNP domains such as primary care, acute care, mental health, and more may include. Understanding these different domains of nursing that FNPs specialize in places one in a better position to make an informed choice when selecting a provider for their own healthcare needs.
Primary care is any type of health care that an individual may receive for general medical or preventative purposes. Family nurse practitioners are trained to practice both independently and in coordination with other healthcare providers to appropriately order and interpret laboratory tests, diagnose disease, and prescribe medication for a variety of illnesses. Acute care focuses on immediate but short term medical attention when the symptoms are severe; this includes after the diagnosis of a severe illness or following a serious injury. FNPs are expected to have had an advanced and comprehensive education to expertly decipher the results of lab tests and decide on a reasonable course of action with very little supervision from specialists. They must also be able to assess risk factors rapidly and accurately determine the severity levels.
This article describes the different domains that FNPs participate in and how you can start your journey to becoming an FNP.
Acute care
Acute care is a type of healthcare provided to patients with illnesses or conditions that require immediate medical attention. This includes emergency surgeries, trauma management, and stabilizing severe illness and injury for further treatment or recovery. Acute care treatments are short-term and are generally completed within 24 hours in an outpatient setting such as a hospital’s emergency department (ED).
The FNP plays an important role in acute care settings due to their capability to quickly assess patient health statuses and provide appropriate interventions established on evidence-based guidelines. FNPs collaborate closely with other providers including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and respiratory therapists when caring for acutely ill patients to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary services tailored to their individual needs. In addition to monitoring vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure; FNPs also perform physical exams that include evaluation of cardiovascular system functioning through listening for abnormal rhythms using cardiac monitoring devices along with performing additional diagnostic tests if needed by taking urine samples or throat swabs. FNPs educate families on medication, preventive measures against various diseases and recommend dietary habits following an evaluation process.
FNPs also offer counseling to help families adjust to a new lifestyle at home following their discharge from the hospital. This holistic approach helps restore health and promotes healing, while also following accepted cultural standards pertinent to the family’s place of residence. This comprehensive view of the patient provides for more accurate data analysis and observation of scenarios that involve different domains at once. A fast response is important to detect possible risks and avoid any future consequences that may arise from unpredictable events. FNPs must create efficient communication lines and maintain a feedback loop to collect up-to-date information from their clients.
Women’s health and mental health
FNPs have an essential role in the provision of women’s health care and can provide comprehensive primary healthcare services including preventive services and screenings. Essential exams such as pap smears or pelvic/breast examinations are often performed by FNPs during wellness visits; they also help diagnose common illnesses like urinary tract infections (UTIs) that affect many women each year. Not only do FNPs provide medical assistance but they also work with their clients toward achieving healthy mental well-being while addressing any additional concerns related to lifestyle adjustment behaviors necessary for long-term success where applicable.
FNPs could also assist in organizing gender-focused events and conferences, particularly those concerning reproductive health. They can gauge adolescent development stages, recognize abnormal parameters and explain their observations to parents or more qualified individuals at the healthcare facility. They can also ensure that people have access to proper legal channels, and employ measures to ensure sustainable practices and improve their overall experience. Nurse practitioners can ensure no patients are put at any disadvantage at health care centers. They can also incorporate external data sources into their decision-making process to better suit the patient’s needs. Mental health is a vital component of overall well-being and FNPs are in an ideal position to promote mental wellness for both individuals and their families. They can provide preventive measures such as screenings, lifestyle recommendations, emotional support services (e.g., counseling), medication management when required , and referrals to specialists if needed; thus, ensuring quality care with minimal wait times along with patient-centricity and utmost privacy.
FNPs can also be actively involved in early intervention programs to diagnose potential diseases stemming from genetic backgrounds in young adults before physical symptoms appear and behavioral patterns become evident. This means that personalized attention is given to each individual and the care is tailored to their specific condition.
Family nurse practitioners are especially knowledgeable about psychotherapeutic strategies used during crisis response events involving abrupt and traumatic emotional shock. The nurse practitioner must act expeditiously and make a quick evaluation to decide on the most effective course of action to help the patient cope and heal in the long term.
Pediatric care and gerontology
FNPs play an important role in pediatric care, providing preventative and treatment-based health initiatives to ensure children of all ages are developing properly. FNPs may evaluate the physical and mental development of infants; they also assess vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse oximetry levels (oxygen saturation), temperature readings, and more.
Family nurse practitioners (FNP) can be given the responsibility of providing specialized treatments for children and adolescents in need of extra attention due to current illness or past trauma and injury. Special programs are created that are tailored to suit the individual’s needs and maintain satisfactory results, and therapies are prescribed to complete tasks. Psycho-educational sessions may be conducted by FNPs to teach parents how to properly support their children during difficult times by introducing topics such as patient advocacy and parental skill into their routines. This ensures the overall well-being of the youngest members of the family is not neglected.
Registered nurses have a significant part to play in developed countries by implementing specially designed programs for senior citizens who want to continue living a high quality of life.
Get involved
The online RN to FNP program at Spring Arbor University is an excellent opportunity for registered nurses (RNs) who are interested in becoming FNPs. This program is also approved by the CCNE. It follows the unique 7-1-7 model, providing a week off between classes so that students can manage their full-time job, studies, and other commitments seamlessly. Upon completion, you’ll be eligible to take the FNP certification exam, and ready to embark on your journey as an independent family nurse practitioner. You’ll receive support from a Student Success Coach, and benefit from the supportive community of your peers and faculty.
Graduating from this program opens you up to opportunities to become an FNP, which 70.3% of all nurse practitioners (NPs) eventually become according to this statistic from The American Association of Nurse Practitioners . The median salary for NPs is $113,000 which means it can be very lucrative to go through this program. Finally, there is also a huge shortage of NPs in the US so you’ll be in high demand should you go through this program.
If you’re an RN who is interested in advancing your education and becoming an FNP, consider the online RN to MSN family nurse practitioner program at Spring Arbor University.
Wrapping it up
The family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an essential role in providing quality healthcare across a variety of domains. FNPs are responsible for assessing, intervening, and medicating acutely ill patients to restore their health. They also provide comprehensive care and mental well-being services for women; they promote mental wellness for individuals and families by offering preventative measures such as screenings, lifestyle recommendations, emotional support services, and medication management when necessary; FNPs also play an important role in pediatric care by providing preventive measures such as screenings to ensure proper physical and mental development of children of all ages. Finally, FNPs provide elderly patients with preventative approaches to common chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes and by monitoring drug usage and their side effects.
Overall, FNPs play a key role across many different healthcare disciplines ensuring the highest level of patient care regardless of age or condition.