Family Nurse Practitioner Analysis

A shortage of health care providers is a common problem seen throughout the United States. This shortage is in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. It is essential that the nation looks for creative ways to provide patients with needed medical care in a timely manner. The utilization of Advance Registered Practice Nurses (APRNs) has shown to be very effective in this healthcare provider crisis. This paper will discuss the significant role that a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) has on health care and what skills are required in order to fulfill the responsibilities within this role. It will also describe my personal plan of how I intend to affect health care delivery as I enter into my new role as an FNP.
Significance of Practitioner
Role As healthcare continues to change, millions of people are seeking medical care. There are several reasons for the lack of providers in healthcare. Firstly, there has been a shortage of primary care physicians, and it is difficult for patients to be seen in a timely manner. Due to lower salaries and extended hours, medical students are choosing to enroll in specialized areas rather than primary care. Secondly, the Affordable Healthcare Act provides an enormous amount of patients with newly available medical coverage. As these patients seek medical care in an already strained healthcare market, the shortage of provider is being felt even in the private sector. The effective utilization of FNP’s is vital to successfully evaluate and treating this influx of patients that is flooding the medical market. The literature supports the utilization of APRNs to help bridge the healthcare gap. It is significantly cheaper to educate an APRN over a physician, and the salaries of the an APRN are considerably lower than that of a primary care physician. As healthcare continues to evolve, FNP’s clearly provide high quality care at an affordable rate to patients. Not to mention, patients prefer APRN over a primary care physician because they spend more time with them. Research validates that APRNs can provide care that is equivalent to physicians and help with provider coverage as well as help lower overall healthcare costs.
Skills Performed As with any job, APRNs have a variety of skills that will be needed to perform within their role.
As we continue through this program, we will continue to learn and fine tune those skills. The fundamental skills that will be needed are assessing, diagnosing, and prescribing. Nevertheless, the state I decide to practice in will definitely impact the autonomy I will have while delivering care. Each state has specific guidelines and regulations that all practitioners must follow while providing care within that state. As a provider, it is important to understand the scope of practice in the institution I choose to work because each place of employment will have their own policies and protocols as well. The procedure skills I will be performing will be determined mainly on what area I choose to work. If I choose a specialty are there will be specific skills that I will perform that I would not necessarily perform in a Family Practice setting. For example, as a practitioner in a Women’s Health setting I would be putting in inter-uterine devices (IUDs) where as if I were in an Acute Care setting I would be suturing more. I hope to find a practitioner job that will allow me to utilize the many skills I have learned throughout the
program. The role of the APRN is very complex, and requires more than just the skills needed to treat patients. They will also need to be proficient in the areas of communication, leadership, and decision making. Communication is an essential part of delivering high quality care to patients. An APRN must facilitate collaboration between all members of the team in order to facilitate teamwork to provide the patient with optimal results and avoid medical errors. This role also brings the responsibility of leadership. Members of the team will look to the APRN for guidance and they will be seen as a role model. It is essential that the APRN has good decision making skills and the ability to adequately calculate risks in order to strategically solve problems. All of these skills when utilized will not only provide better care for the patient, but it will enhance the overall teamwork with the institution. This reinforces just how involved the APRN is and the impact they have on the overall healthcare system.
Action Plan As healthcare continues to change we have to find creative ways to interact and treat patients.
Practitioners are helping to transformation healthcare. As I enter my new role, I plan to focus a large portion of my time on patient education. Treatment compliance is highly dependent on appropriate teaching. This will not only help optimize my patient’s current medical condition but their future well-being as well. Preventative education is the new wave of healthcare. So many medical issues can be prevented by identify potential risk factors early on and formulating a treatment plan to address them. In return, my patients will be healthier and their healthcare costs will be lower. I plan to incorporate innovative ways to encourage patient interaction and education. By utilizing current computer informatics into my practice, I will be able to reach more patients and families. It would allow me to set up educational classes or join in family members during a patient’s visit via the web. Not to mention, it would allow a collaborative conversation to occur with consulting physicians, to ensure the patient felt a team approach. As healthcare continues to evolve, I plan to evolve with
it. I plan to practice holistic care as I enter my new role as an APRN. I will look beyond a person’s physical disease, and look at all aspects of their health and well-being. I will incorporate the patient’s spiritual beliefs, mental needs, emotional status, and environmental influences. Holistic care encourages the provider to view the patient’s mind, body, and spirit as one. I believe that spiritual healing is a major component of physical healing. Prayer and scripture offers the patient comfort and peace in an assortment of situations, and I intend to incorporate my love for God into my practice. A patient’s faith in God and their spiritual needs are important component to include when treating the patient. By incorporating holistic care into my practice, I will provide my patient’s with the best care available. The way we practice medicine is changing, and holistic care provides me an avenue to share my love and faith in God with my patients and their families.