Nurses are the building blocks of the healthcare system, and their different specializations make them an essential asset for hospitals. A family nurse practitioner is one of the most sought-after qualifications among nurses since they are an integral part of the healthcare industry. They look after patients of all ages, and their skills and abilities transcend many other professionals in this field. They know how to deal with patients with different acute, chronic illnesses and help develop their treatment plans. They also perform diagnostics and prescribe medications to treat their patients who need primary care.
The concept of holistic care is an essential approach in developing and improving the healthcare industry. There has been a rise in the numbers of unidentified and contagious diseases across the globe, and it has posed a great challenge for healthcare leaders. Nurses have joined hands with the industry leaders to instill a holistic care approach in their hospitals to cure the patients as a whole so that their immunity becomes strong enough to fight off all these new diseases. As new policies come into order, we find family nurse practitioners becoming a part of campaigns to promote the physical wellbeing of the patients along with their mental and spiritual ones. Let’s have a look at some of how FNPs provide holistic care to patients under their care:
- Uniquely Skilled
FNPs have an extensive skill set which makes them so distinguished in their work in the field. They are compassionate and respectful towards their patients and know how to look after them according to their different ages. If you’re pursuing a career in nursing, and wish to advance your abilities and qualifications, then a degree like online msn-fnp program can prove valuable. A master’s degree would enable you to improve quality support for your patients, enhance your communication with them and their families, acquire the intellect needed to understand their needs, and much more. FNPs also have many roles like nurse practitioners; they perform assessments by gathering essential information and executing lab tests, they use this data to lead to the appropriate diagnosis. FNPs have enough qualifications to diagnose many medical conditions just as a family physician, and in response, they could guide their patients with an accurate treatment plan.
- Attend to Physical Wellbeing
Family Nurse Practitioners are educators of their patients, and they find themselves responsible for attending wholly towards client wellness. One of the most integral aspects of holistic caregiving is dealing with the physical wellbeing of the patient on a level of the whole. For instance, if a patient complains of a mere headache, FNPs are not just going to diagnose and prescribe medicines, but they would ensure that their patients opt for healthier choices in the future. They’d help them understand the long-term relationship between a healthy lifestyle and such symptoms of no apparent disease.
FNPs develop a lifelong understanding with their patients and have an opportunity to study their lives and their habits thoroughly. They choose to become their life coaches because they could ask generic questions about their alcohol intake, smoking habits, or substance dependence. And that’s how they encourage their patients to make informed decisions about their wellbeing to prevent illnesses.
- Focus on Mental Health
Holistic care is an approach that demands nurses and physicians to cater to the complete needs of their patients and provide treatments that make them fit both physically and mentally. FNPs play a unique role here, as they are qualified enough to understand the complexity of their patient’s conditions. They are aware of their family situation, living conditions, and income status, making them competent enough to analyze the patients’ physical, mental and emotional needs.
Patients also trust their FNPs more and open up to them more quickly than their physicians because nurses have a natural empathetic streak. Hence, with a comprehensive understanding of their patient’s conditions, FNPs can be much more efficient in promoting mental health awareness and wellness. Even in today’s era, it could be difficult for some patients or their families to understand an unseen illness, but FNPs ensure that their psychosocial needs are met to improve health outcomes.
- Promote Quality Care
The healthcare leaders are always working together to develop ideas to improve health outcomes and quality of care. FNPs significantly help bridge the gap between the caregivers and the patients by being flexible during the time of need. Their demand increases in rural areas because they can quickly provide primary care, just like a doctor. And depending on their state of practice, they can also work as full-time practitioners without physician supervision. They are abreast with the modern-day requirements of a primary care doctor and can look after families at once. They can operate independently in about twenty-two states of the U.S., and hence, they could bring a tremendous change in the healthcare system with their approachableness and availability.
Regardless of the scope of their practices, FNPs hold an impactful place in the system; they are promotors of the quality of care because of their incredible focus on patient advocacy and education. They can provide home-based and hospital-based services, work at community clinics, treat patients of all ages, become a part of health campaigns at schools, and much more.
- Empathize With Patients
FNPs can analyze the multifaceted aspects of their patients’ lives and develop a well-rounded patient-centric plan to cater to every person’s individual needs. They can empathize with the patients because their patients tend to trust them. They can cater to their concerns regarding treatment plans and make them well-aware of their choices.
They can also teach their patients the basics of self-care and encourage them to improve their lifestyles. For instance, many FNPs teach their diabetic patients how to check their sugar levels or use insulin to limit their hospital visits. It would mean an overall improvement in their health and prevention from contracting HAIs. FNPs can also help their patients find the proper support and professional help through an appropriate network to help their patients find better service. Additionally, since they have the most access to their patient’s health conditions and contributing factors, they could communicate with their families and help them understand the needs of the patients. FNPs, especially those with a master’s degree, are today’s leaders, and hence, they can expertly maneuver theoretical knowledge in the practical work field.
Conclusion
In conclusion, family nurse practitioners are an integral part of the healthcare system, and they are highly competent individuals who are focused on improving health outcomes. Their in-depth knowledge and extensive skill set can create a clear and concise understanding of their patient. They also develop treatment plans for them and communicate them to them and their families, along with their other choices. They ultimately help their patients make the right decision, and hence, they are very reliable. Focusing on treating their patients’ physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health provides holistic care.
