Occupational Challenges Family Nurse Practitioners Face
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Family Nurse practitioners are taught and trained to deal with patients of all age groups instead of other groups of Nurse Practitioners. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) help improve service delivery by providing high-quality care and treatment to elderly patients, young disabled individuals with limited mobility, and bed-ridden patients who need monitoring to get through their situations (Kilpatrick, et al., 2020). Through this, we ensure there is a better quality of life for the patients. According to Norful et al. (2018), the guiding principles of nursing practice for FNPs require that one is able to accurately diagnose disorders or diseases and can provide treatment and prolonged care if need be. In critical care, a well-developed care plan is created with the desired goals written down. It is also important to note that FNPs make regular visits and liaise with doctors to ensure their patients’ progress well with the care and treatment plans.
Problem Statement
As a practitioner, it is easy to handle many of the occupational challenges I am exposed to. Still, it is essential to highlight that few problems are overwhelming to us. Long, extended working hours and emotional pain have affected many FNPs; this needs to be addressed to prevent increased cases of stress and depression for FNPs and ensure the quality of care provided is improved (Kilpatrick, et al., 2020). Long working hours leave an FNP tired and exhausted, thus exposing fatigue; this is dangerous as one may make mistakes while on duty due to a lack of proper concentration. The patients are sometimes erratic and irritated, thus, passing this to their care provider. While this might be normal, it leaves the FNP also emotionally stressed, consequently reducing their productivity.
Purpose Statement
Technological advancements in the medical sector have been adopted at a very high rate. While human-to-human contact is healthy, health care facilities should incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning developments to ease the work burden and shorten working hours for FNPs. According to Norful et al. (2018), family nurse practitioners have helped provide a human touch to the elderly, disabled, and patients with chronic illnesses. Any developments that help ease their work should be welcome. I will seek to research and discuss more on the occupational challenges faced by FNPs and present my recommendations on improving their working environment.
Kilpatrick, K., Tchouaket, É., Jabbour, M., & Hains, S. (2020). A mixed methods quality improvement study to implement nurse practitioner roles and improve care for residents in long-term care facilities. BMC nursing, 19(1), 1-14.
Norful, A. A., de Jacq, K., Carlino, R., & Poghosyan, L. (2018). Nurse practitioner–physician comanagement: a theoretical model to alleviate primary care strain. The Annals of Family Medicine, 16(3), 250-256.
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