As of February 2024, 88% of nurse practitioners
are certified in primary care, and 70.3% deliver primary care every day. A substantial number of nurse and family nurse practitioners fall within this category.
Family nurse practitioners have a significant role in the delivery of healthcare. They positively impact their patients and patient outcomes and also meet the needs of those living in rural communities.
Role Family Nurse Practitioner
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) cares for patients of all ages, from newborn to geriatric. FNPs work in clinic or outpatient settings with hours typically starting at 8 am or 9 am and ending at 5 pm. Many clinics require FNPs to participate in an on-call rotation at their work, including taking phone calls after hours. These calls often involve patients seeking advice on managing acute symptoms, such as sudden fever, severe pain, or shortness of breath, and whether they should seek care in an urgent care or emergency department.
The role of an FNP includes:
Performing a thorough assessment.
Completing diagnostic tests such as labs or imaging as indicated.
Interpreting the results of the assessment and diagnostic tests and formulating a diagnosis.
Developing a treatment plan based on the diagnosis.
FNPs emphasize health promotion and preventative care in their daily practice. They also manage chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes and treat acute health concerns such as upper respiratory infections and back pain as needed.
Day in the Life of a Family Nurse Practitioner
An FNP undertakes diverse tasks daily, from patient care in the office to addressing triage questions, interpreting results, arranging additional tests or referrals, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. This dynamic role ensures that their patients receive the best possible care.
The foundation of an FNP day is providing care across the lifespan, which includes:
Annual Physicals: FNPs perform annual physicals or well-child checks on newborns until death. At these appointments, FNPs ensure patients are current on immunizations, laboratory work, and cancer screenings. They also answer parent or patient concerns and perform complete head-to-toe assessments to ensure patients are as healthy as possible. Ultimately, it is an opportunity to educate patients on disease prevention and health promotion.
Managing chronic problems across the lifespan: Most FNPs’ daily practice entails managing chronic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. These appointments may occur every three months or on an as-needed basis.
Management of acute problems across the lifespan: The FNP also manages acute issues daily. It is not uncommon for an FNP to see multiple patients with acute concerns throughout the day, which may include managing upper respiratory symptoms, musculoskeletal problems, or skin concerns.
Preparing for the next day: At the end of the day, an FNP may find time to prepare for the next day in the clinic. This may involve reviewing their schedule and reviewing their upcoming patients’ information as needed. They may also respond to lab results that occurred throughout their day and answer any messages from triage or clinical staff.
Family nurse practitioners are essential to delivering healthcare in the United States. Not only are they helping meet the needs of patients in rural communities, but patients who receive care from NPs experience excellent outcomes, including greater satisfaction with the care received, treatment adherence, and treatment success.
The post A Day in The Life: Family Nurse Practitioners first appeared on Daily Nurse.