Advanced Nursing Practice Role of a Family Nurse Practitioner

Advanced Nursing Practice Role of a Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Nursing Practice Role of a Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) play an essential role in the provision of coordinated care to patients, and they may offer primary or specialty services. Whereas the specific scope of practice may be defined at the state level and may vary depending on the region of practice, APRNs work in a wide array of healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, institutions, and physicians' offices. The major role of the advanced practice nurse is to provide care to patients and interact with the public as a mediator between the doctor and families.

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The advanced level training by APRNs means that they have an elevated level of knowledge than their registered nurse counterparts, as manifested in their enhanced decision making capability and expertise in undertaking patient diagnosis and assessment, planning and implementing care for patients, and evaluation of healthcare service provision. Advanced practice nurses, particularly Family nurse practitioners, are filling vital roles in the United States’ healthcare system through the provision of low-cost access to care and closing the gaps in primary care shortage to enhance the populations’ health outcomes.

Background With the increase in demand for healthcare services associated with an aging population, the burden of chronic diseases, and access for all, advanced practice nurses are in high demand (Bauer & Bodenheimer, 2017). In a study conducted by Bauer, L., & Bodenheimer (2017) to examine the expanded role of registered nurses in the United States, it was established that the practice size is increasing and a looming shortage of primary practitioners growing with the heightened prevalence of chronic diseases. The systematic analysis of literature studies established that the number of primary care physicians is anticipated to decrease in relation to the U.S. population as the number of nurse practitioners increase. The position is also affirmed by George (2016), affirming the role of the advanced nurse practitioner as the primary care provider following the looming of chronic conditions and enhanced demand for care. The primary care will, therefore, include an enhanced role for RNs especially in the role of chronic care management.

The Family Nurse Practitioner Role

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is a registered nurse with specialized clinical and education training to provide primary-focused care. The FNP role is clinical and is integral in promoting patient outcomes by promoting increased access to care for all. The FNP works with patients by conducting diagnosis, treatment, and prescription to maintain health. The FNP is an advanced registered nurse licensed to undertake similar roles as a family doctor.

To investigate the role of the FNP in addressing health inequalities, Yingling et al. (2017) established that the nurse practitioners are playing a significant role in addressing health disparities across populations by serving the needs of specialized groups such as the gay community. Indeed, the family nurse practitioner attends to patients of all ages, and based on the state restrictions, the FNP provides family-focused care that revolves around the family unit (Tracy & O'Grady, 2018). The care services offered by the FNP includes health promotion and disease prevention service for children, adolescents, adults, women, the elderly, and practically all population across the entire life span.

Application of an Advanced Nursing Practice Concept to the Family Nurse Practitioner Role As affirmed by Tracy and O'Grady (2018), the core concepts of the advanced nursing practice role include autonomy in clinical practice, pioneering professional and clinical leadership, as well as a researcher and expert practitioner. In relation to the role of the FNP, autonomy in clinical practice is a role that can be considered. For the FNP, autonomy in clinical practice implies that the nurse is competent enough to have the authority and power to make decisions concerning patient care and freedom to make clinical judgments, pursue health choices and activities that are aimed at promoting patient health. As affirmed by George (2016), FNP is well trained, experienced, and equipped to provide patient diagnosis, treatment, and care. Based

on the respective state of practice, the FNP can practice without the oversight of a physician to deliver patient care.

Questions to Ask the Advanced Practice Practitioner Individual to be Interviewed: Mayra Credentials: FNP Position: Registered Nurse Outpatient Planned Date for Interview: 26 November 2020.

Questions 1. Tell me about your role as a FNP? 2. What are your Qualifications for this role?

3. Why did you choose to specialize as a FNP? 4. What roles do you undertake?

5. What do you consider as the most challenging aspect of working as a FNP? 6. What is your contribution to the primary care experience?

7. How do you cope with stress and burnout?

8. How do you address unethical conduct?

9. How do you promote collaboration among healthcare teams?

10. What are your plans for advancing in your profession?

Conclusion The advanced nurse practitioner role has been identified as very critical in closing the gap in healthcare access as the demand for care increases across the United States because of an aging population and chronic disease burden. The advanced practice nurse has an autonomy of

practice across different states and this empowers them to conduct diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients. The role of the FNP has been explored and the crucial role they play in attending to patients of all ages, from infants to geriatrics, to access care thus improving the overall patient outcomes.

References George, T. (2016). Role of the advanced practice nurse in palliative care. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 22(3), 137-140. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2016.22.3.137 Bauer, L., & Bodenheimer, T. (2017). Expanded roles of registered nurses in primary care delivery of the future. Nursing Outlook, 65(5), 624-632. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2017.03.011.

Tracy, M. F., & O'Grady, E. T. (2018). Hamric & Hanson's Advanced Practice Nursing-E-Book: An Integrative Approach. (6th Edition). Elsevier Health Sciences (US). [South University].

Yingling, C. T., Cotler, K., & Hughes, T. L. (2017). Building nurses’ capacity to address health inequities: incorporating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health content in a family nurse practitioner programme. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(17-18), 2807-2817. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13707