One of the most popular nursing specializations for nurses is the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Many nurses who study for their master’s degree in nursing science choose the FNP route as it gives them a wide scope of practice and increases their likelihood of finding work.
According to Forbes almost 70% of nurse practitioners choose to specialize as FNPs. With a projected growth rate of 38% between 2022 and 2032, FNPs should have no problem finding work in their chosen profession in the next decade. With a variety of institutions to choose from and a range of patients of different ages, FNPs are sure to find their niche in the field of nursing practice.
FNP specializations
FNPs work with newborn babies, see small children through the important phases of development, handle teenage issues, and guide adolescents through their transition into adulthood. Adults may be somewhat easier to handle as they tend to manage their health more efficiently, but it is at this stage that chronic illness begins to creep in. For older adults, health issues escalate until they reach a stage where individuals have difficulty caring for themselves. Adult gerontology has therefore become one of the most intensive sectors of nursing as today’s aging population increases the demand on medical resources.
FNPs may choose to specialize in an area of nursing that they most enjoy, such as pediatrics, adult gerontology, or women’s health. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) scope of practice opens doors to a professional career that is both challenging and rewarding. Registered Nurses (RNs) may like to consider the comprehensive online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at Carson-Newman University, fulfilling their requirements in terms of skills and knowledge while studying at a pace that suits the busy life of an RN.
FNPs and the different stages of life
Here is what the FNP can expect to encounter when nursing patients from birth through end-of-life care.
Birth to two years
This is a particularly important stage of life, as the development of young bodies and minds happens at a very fast pace during the first two years. The difficulty with treating small children is their inability to communicate. FNPs are trained to recognize symptoms and to treat their young patients accordingly.
Aside from managing the usual illnesses that babies and toddlers pick up from interacting with other children, young children need to be monitored carefully to pick up any abnormalities that may be present. This applies not only to physical development but to mental development as well. Children grow differently, and while there is no need for panic if a child is slow, FNPs are trained to pick up unusual signs and know what late development in a particular area may mean.
Three years to pre-teens
Three-year-olds have generally passed the frustrating phase of not being able to communicate and have learned where their boundaries are. They are more able to describe how they are feeling and where it hurts, making it easier for parents, caregivers, and nurses to identify health problems.
Nurses in a family setting deal with childhood illnesses such as measles, mumps, tonsillitis, and influenza. Children will be children, and FNPs generally have their fair share of broken bones and other injuries to deal with as well at this age. While FNPs are trained to administer care to most types of injuries, they may find it necessary to refer the patient to a specialist for treatment.
Teenagers to early adulthood
Teens and young adults are at a stage where they become socially active and susceptible to a variety of illnesses that are more prevalent during these years. From gastroenteritis bacteria picked up in school bathrooms to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the FNP is likely to experience many of these unpleasant diseases in their family practice. Also prevalent among teenagers is substance abuse, and once identified, the FNP will usually refer the patient to a facility for further intervention. The good news is that teenagers soon become young adults and generally adopt healthier lifestyles in their later years.
Adults
Adults suffer from the usual coughs and colds, skin infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and sinus infections. Many adults experience stress in their lives and this can lead to poor health due to lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits. FNPs learn to recognize the underlying causes of certain symptoms and can ask questions relating to lifestyle and diet. Based on the patient’s answers, they decide what kind of treatment to administer and advise patients on how to make healthy changes in their lives.
Adults may also show signs of chronic ailments at this point in life. If this is the case, a referral to a specialist physician sooner rather than later enables FNPs to manage the patient’s illness in collaboration with the relevant specialists. Regulation of eating habits, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep are also recommended for this age group through education.
Elderly patients
From the age of about 60 onwards, people begin experiencing aches and pains in parts of their bodies that they were never aware of before. Modern science has meant that people live longer, and hopefully, the additional years are blessed with good health. However, without a doubt, the body begins to slow down at this age: bones become brittle, eyesight begins to fail, and all sorts of chronic ailments creep in.
People over the age of 60 usually have at least two chronic illnesses, but often up to five or six at a time. Managing multiple illnesses is no small task. Creating treatment plans, organizing medication and doctor’s checkups, dressing wounds, diagnosing illness, and seeing to the overall fitness and well-being of elderly patients are all part of the busy FNP’s day.
It doesn’t stop there
Along with the wide scope of duties that FNPs have, there are additional specializations that they may want to pursue. Additional certification can be achieved through various organizations, enabling FNPs to move into areas that they are specifically interested in or to enhance their knowledge in the environment they are currently working. FNPs can go just about anywhere, even branching out into business, research, or IT if they choose. It’s an exciting profession with great rewards, suitable for professional nurses who wish to make a difference in the lives of others while applying their expertise to advise and support their colleagues around them.