Over time, several careers and professions have immensely evolved. However, the transformations seen in the nursing field are some of the more drastic ones, where the training, workplace settings, and job responsibilities have all changed.
Moreover, history teaches us that, previously, nursing had very little to do with formal medical education and training and more about household skills passed from generation to generation. And even when official nursing programs began for this profession, the prominent job roles would focus on patient bedside care. But with the rapid advancements in modern medicine and emerging technology, nurses can now work in various positions that directly or indirectly impact patient outcomes.
More importantly, despite improved accessibility and availability of medical treatments, chronic illnesses are growing more prevalent. Whether this is due to poor lifestyle habits, deteriorating environmental conditions, or an increasingly aging population, there’s a rising number of patient admissions each year. Therefore, the demand for healthcare professionals is also at an all-time high.
And so, to meet this increasing demand, nurse practitioners who undergo extensive training and education have greater responsibilities. Here we list six ways they improve patient care regularly.
1. Enhance healthcare accessibility
Family nurse practitioners can improve patient care by enhancing healthcare accessibility in underserved areas. Since rural or remote regions often have limited healthcare facilities, people living there are unable to receive the proper medical care on time. However, to mitigate this, FNPs serve as primary care providers in these areas to ensure everyone gets the appropriate treatment on time. Since these professionals have years of experience and knowledge, they can better care for patients from various backgrounds and cultures.
Additionally, the emergence of online nursing MSN programs has further accelerated the growth of the FNP workforce and subsequently improved healthcare accessibility. Due to the remote facilities of these programs, more professionals can transition into the FNP role, addressing the shortage of healthcare providers across the country.
2. Increase awareness
With their expertise and focus on patient education, FNPs can actively promote health literacy and raise awareness about various health conditions and preventive measures. Their regular interactions with patients and families place them in the unique position to address their concerns and explain complex medicine in simpler language. Helping break down medical jargon can empower individuals to make more informed decisions and better understand their diagnoses and treatment plans. This health literacy lets patients recognize possible signs and symptoms and seek intervention immediately.
FNPs also work on increasing awareness by organizing community outreach programs, workshops, public health campaigns, and medical camps. Using these platforms, they circulate knowledge of emerging health concerns among vulnerable populations so they can better heed precautions.
3. Encourage routine checkups
Even those chronic health conditions that don’t yet have a cure have a better prognosis if doctors can identify them in the early stages. Routine checkups and screenings are vital tools that help make an early diagnosis, especially among patients at risk of acquiring certain illnesses. Since FNPs recognize the importance of preventive care, they encourage patients to get screened for specific health parameters routinely. This way, even if a disease gets diagnosed, early interventions and treatments can significantly improve patient outcomes and help an individual live a longer, healthier life.
Due to the nature of their work, FNPs build strong relationships with their patients that foster trust and open communication. This direct interaction creates a sense of comfort and security for the patient and makes it more likely for them to follow through with their upcoming appointments.
4. Focus on holistic care
A significant part of an FNP’s training involves teaching them to recognize that patients are not merely an assortment of medical issues and symptoms. Instead, they’re a combination of complex physical, psychological, social, and emotional systems—all of which are interconnected. This lesson is crucial in helping practitioners develop individualized care plans that address each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.
By taking a holistic approach, FNPs can identify certain non-physiological factors like lifestyle, diet, and sleeping habits and their impact on a patient. Being able to label these plays a vital role in not just treating the body but also the mind and spirit. This comprehensive strategy enhances patient satisfaction, encourages engagement, and improves health outcomes.
5. Work in diverse settings
FNPs have the comfort of being incredibly versatile and working in diverse healthcare settings to improve patient care. They serve patients across various workplaces, including primary care clinics, hospitals, community health centers, schools, and long-term care facilities.
For example, in primary care clinics, FNPs serve as patients’ main point of contact and provide complete and constant care. They conduct thorough tests to diagnose and treat common illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and promote preventive care. Similarly, in hospitals, they contribute to collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to provide acute and critical care services.
Overall, an FNP’s knowledge and skillset train them to be adaptable and flexible to work in various healthcare settings and handle several responsibilities simultaneously.
6. Advocate systemic changes
In today’s society, FNPs can do much more than provide healthcare services to their patients. For instance, they are supremely qualified and capable of taking on leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, or whichever setting they work in. This role allows them to actively advocate for systemic changes at various levels to promote better patient care.
FNPs can collaborate with other hospitals, professional organizations, medical associations, and government agencies to support policies that improve patient care. They can organize and participate in discussions and provide expert input on healthcare access, insurance coverage, and reimbursement models.
Likewise, at the systemic level, FNPs advocate for changes within healthcare organizations and systems. They strive to improve the care delivery process, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. They do this by implementing evidence-based practices, quality improvement initiatives, and leveraging technology to streamline healthcare processes and improve patient outcomes.
Conclusion
The nursing profession has come a long way since nurses were considered “assistants” to other healthcare workers like physicians and surgeons. In any healthcare setting today, the absence of nurses gets heavily recognized, and it’s impossible to ignore their importance in providing patient care. More qualified professionals, such as family nurse practitioners, have an even bigger role in influencing some large-scale changes that improve patient outcomes. And so, for those looking to make some significant impact in the healthcare industry, this career path may be the ideal option.