A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides healthcare services to various patients of all ages. An FNP can provide services to children, adults and seniors alike.
The services that an FNP provides are critical to the wellbeing and support of various people. An FNP will assist patients through many procedures and offer a calm and caring approach to work. The FNP is often the first healthcare professional that someone will see when requesting help during a medical issue. So, the FNP must be ready to help people when the time comes.
An FNP will provide many essential services for patients. Here’s a look at what an FNP can expect to do during a typical day.
General duties for an FNP
An FNP will complete many tasks during a typical working day. The most prominent part of an FNP’s duties is diagnosing conditions and treating them. However, sometimes, an FNP will refer a patient to another doctor or a specialist, depending on the person’s condition and care needs.
There are many standard duties that an FNP will complete during their day:
- Assessing patients, including conducting regular physicals.
- Diagnosing conditions based on physical and assessment results.
- Planning treatments for certain conditions, including acute and chronic ones.
- Providing preventative care services.
- Planning referrals to other professionals for care as necessary.
- Prescribing medications and other treatment options.
- Requesting further tests for certain conditions – an FNP may ask a patient to visit another specialist for a more intensive or specific test.
The care that an FNP will provide will always be evidence-based. The work focuses on understanding the distinct needs that each patient has for care. An online DNP-FNP program such as the one provided by Walsh University can help students get on the right path to success. This degree will give you the knowledge you need to gain a position to care for patients across the lifespan as you earn the highest credentials available for clinical nursing practice.
What about more intensive procedures?
An FNP can assist doctors in more intensive or detailed processes, including minor surgeries. An FNP can provide information on a patient to the doctor and also issue recommendations for what the doctor should do for the patient. The suggestions can be essential in deciding what is suitable for the patient.
Some of the more intensive procedures that an FNP may handle on their own often involve basic treatments. For example, a professional can provide IV treatment for patients with basic health needs.
However, the more invasive surgical procedures will still require a doctor or surgeon to be on hand to help. An FNP will provide assistance by reviewing a patient’s needs beforehand and providing proper guidance. The doctor or surgeon will use the FNP’s report to determine the best treatments for work. The plan provides a more careful and suitable approach to work to ensure that a patient feels their best.
An FNP can also provide referrals for patients who need help as necessary. The FNP can submit a referral to have a patient meet a specialist or surgeon for a more intensive procedure. The FNP will require plenty of contacts and links with others to make it easier for a patient to receive the help they need.
Independent and team-based work is necessary
An FNP can work both on their own and with team members. Most of the initial work from an FNP may be independent, as the FNP will need to review a patient’s situation and determine the necessary services they require. The FNP will also work with doctors, other nurses and various specialists when going forward in planning treatments for a patient.
The specific sites where an FNP can work will also vary. While some FNPs can work in independent practices, many other FNPs can work in hospitals, research facilities, specialty clinics and outpatient venues.
Proper communication will also be necessary for an FNP’s success each day. The FNP can start their day by planning different communications and interactions with people. The work includes checking on whoever is available and seeing what tasks they can delegate to other professionals. All contacts must be planned well in advance, while also being simple enough for people to follow.
How many people will an FNP serve each day?
The number of people that an FNP will serve each day will vary, but typically, FNPs can expect to serve 20 to 30 people in a typical day. This assumes that the FNP works for at least eight hours a day. While an eight-hour workday is typical for many FNPs, some may have 12-hour shifts depending on where they work.
Proper spacing is often necessary for ensuring that the FNP can handle all the patients they visit. An average FNP may see two or three patients in an hour. The timing is necessary to allow the FNP to have enough time to review patients and their needs. The FNP also needs time to record all the necessary information on a patient.
An FNP will require an extended amount of experience and training to be capable of handling many patients. A DNP-FNP program at Walsh University will require a student to complete 1,250 clinical hours of training, including 750 direct patient care hours and 500 hours of project and clinical work. The work is vital to ensure that a student will have the skills necessary to serve as an FNP.
What about certifications?
Some certifications are available for today’s FNPs. These include certifications focusing on many points:
- Pain management
- Diabetes care
- Pediatric medicine
- Mobility support
- Obesity control
- Substance abuse recovery
While an FNP is not required to have additional certification, it always helps a student to have one. Students who have further certifications may be viewed as more trustworthy.
The added certification that can be attained may also be required when operating in certain environments. An FNP who focuses on heart health may be in demand at a segment in a hospital dedicated to handling stroke or cardiac arrest patients, for example. Such specialists will need to provide further support for patients as necessary.
What makes working as an FNP so beneficial?
The stress that an FNP can experience each day is often challenging to manage. There is no telling what might happen during an average working day. However, the work is essential to the lives of many people, and it can provide help for many people who need assistance staying healthy.
The daily work of an FNP is rewarding, as there are many positives to working in this field:
- FNPs are capable of understanding various medical conditions. It becomes easier for an FNP to identify and diagnose conditions as they gain experience.
- FNPs enjoy working with patients of all ages. The assortment of people that an FNP can serve often makes the workday more enjoyable.
- There is always a chance for an FNP to learn something new while working. The medical industry is always changing and evolving, so being able to learn new things while on the job is a plus.
- Many professionals can also develop positive relationships with their clients. As all members of a family can visit the same FNP, it becomes easier for the FNP to have a good relationship with everyone.
- There are always interesting things happening during a typical day. FNPs will need to be prepared for anything that might happen, but the work can be rewarding when they get used to everything.
- The impact that an FNP will have on the lives of other people will be positive. An FNP will feel great about the hard work they provide to everyone during the day.
These positives of working as an FNP make this field one of the most exciting ones for people to explore. The impact that they can make on others ensures that their work will be rewarding and positive.
Are you interested in working as an FNP?
Working as an FNP is a rewarding and exciting opportunity that allows you to help others and provide support for many physical needs.
The nursing field is always growing, and the demand for FNPs in today’s environment is strong. FNPs will provide quality services that can make a positive impact on the lives of everyone they serve.
Anyone looking to study as an FNP should be aware of what is involved during a typical working day. The work can be extensive and challenging at times, but it is always rewarding.
