Family Nurse Practitioner Essay
Overview:
Family nurse practitioners (FNP) are registered nurses with specialization in family nursing practices. They provide specialty treatment for patients belonging to wide age ranges like child to aged people. They provide assistance in maintaining wellness and giving treatment for mild to serious problems. They are found to work in doctor’s clinic, hospice facilities and own practice.
As FNPs are highly educated and also have clinical training skills, they are achieving more independence now a day. They are well qualified to diagnose and treat critical medical conditions. But in some states (according to the state rules) they still have to work under the supervision of the physician.
Qualification:
To become a family nurse practitioner, one must need to get a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and license certification as a registered nurse after passing the National Council Licensure Examination. After this, one can start working as a registered nurse. …show more content…
Before getting a certification in family practice, one must first complete his or her Master of Science degree in nursing and take courses on family nursing theory, acute & chronic illness management, primary healthcare problems, leadership preparation etc.
Board Certification is available for family nurse practitioners, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. To sit for the exam one have to pay $395 but member nurses of the American Nursing Association get a discount.
Main Duties:
Just like the family doctors, these nurse practitioners work with the patients all through their lives. They diagnose and treat illness through conducting diagnostic tests and giving medications in certain cases. They provide primary and specialty treatment care for adults and children. The main duties of a family nurse practitioner are :
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with chronic
illnesses
• Performing physical exam and inferring medical history of patients
• Conducting diagnostic tests
• Depending upon state regulations, sometimes prescribing pharmacologic treatments
• Recommending physical therapy commensurate with the age of the patients
• Giving prenatal care educating would be mothers and also providing family planning assistance
• Educating patients and their family members about various preventive measures
Job Prospect:
The Bureau of Labour Statistics projected that there will be 34% growth in the employment of all nurse practitioners during 2012-2022. There are good opportunities for these nurses to work in various settings like clinics, emergency room, specialized care or intensive care units etc. The US will experience a shortage of around 800,000 nurses in medical facilities by the year 2020 which speaks for the growth in the demand for the nurses.
Salary:
The job of family nurse professionals is well paid. On an average a family nurse practitioner earns around $94,000. Additionally they are eligible for annual bonuses and other compensations like profit sharing. Although the salary of family nurse practitioners depend upon their education, training, job location, type of the organization and specialization area.
Career Advancement:
The responsibility and power for nurses will expand along with their educational and work experience. With advanced education and skills, family nurse practitioners may get the chance to serve the role of a hospital or clinic administrator and policy- makers. As one further move in her career, she may find opportunities to explore the areas like clinical research and academics or health administrations. Family nurse practitioners with expertise may find leadership opportunities in their specialty areas.
Family nurse practitioners (FNP) are registered nurses with specialization in family nursing practices. They provide specialty treatment for patients belonging to wide age ranges like child to aged people. They provide assistance in maintaining wellness and giving treatment for mild to serious problems. They are found to work in doctor’s clinic, hospice facilities and own practice.
As FNPs are highly educated and also have clinical training skills, they are achieving more independence now a day. They are well qualified to diagnose and treat critical medical conditions. But in some states (according to the state rules) they still have to work under the supervision of the physician.
Qualification:
To become a family nurse practitioner, one must need to get a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and license certification as a registered nurse after passing the National Council Licensure Examination. After this, one can start working as a registered nurse. …show more content…
Before getting a certification in family practice, one must first complete his or her Master of Science degree in nursing and take courses on family nursing theory, acute & chronic illness management, primary healthcare problems, leadership preparation etc.
Board Certification is available for family nurse practitioners, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. To sit for the exam one have to pay $395 but member nurses of the American Nursing Association get a discount.
Main Duties:
Just like the family doctors, these nurse practitioners work with the patients all through their lives. They diagnose and treat illness through conducting diagnostic tests and giving medications in certain cases. They provide primary and specialty treatment care for adults and children. The main duties of a family nurse practitioner are :
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with chronic
illnesses
• Performing physical exam and inferring medical history of patients
• Conducting diagnostic tests
• Depending upon state regulations, sometimes prescribing pharmacologic treatments
• Recommending physical therapy commensurate with the age of the patients
• Giving prenatal care educating would be mothers and also providing family planning assistance
• Educating patients and their family members about various preventive measures
Job Prospect:
The Bureau of Labour Statistics projected that there will be 34% growth in the employment of all nurse practitioners during 2012-2022. There are good opportunities for these nurses to work in various settings like clinics, emergency room, specialized care or intensive care units etc. The US will experience a shortage of around 800,000 nurses in medical facilities by the year 2020 which speaks for the growth in the demand for the nurses.
Salary:
The job of family nurse professionals is well paid. On an average a family nurse practitioner earns around $94,000. Additionally they are eligible for annual bonuses and other compensations like profit sharing. Although the salary of family nurse practitioners depend upon their education, training, job location, type of the organization and specialization area.
Career Advancement:
The responsibility and power for nurses will expand along with their educational and work experience. With advanced education and skills, family nurse practitioners may get the chance to serve the role of a hospital or clinic administrator and policy- makers. As one further move in her career, she may find opportunities to explore the areas like clinical research and academics or health administrations. Family nurse practitioners with expertise may find leadership opportunities in their specialty areas.