Introduction
Advanced nursing practice responds to modern challenges, allowing nurses to engage in health service delivery on a significant level. Family nurse practitioners’ work focuses on health monitoring and disease prevention within an entire family, regardless of age. Therefore, this area of expertise makes a valuable contribution to public health, comprising a variety of practical steps. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of a family nurse practitioner in terms of setting, population, and required competencies based on the information collected through an interview with a practicing specialist.
Organization Setting, Population, and Colleagues of Interviewee
The present research includes a comprehensive interview conducted on October 7 with Maria del Carmen and presented as the Appendix. Maria works as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) at MinuteClinic, a CVS Health location. The company operates nationwide, offering affordable health services to all people who need them. MinuteClinic shares the vision of accessible health care set by CVS Health. This particular clinic operates in the area of Miami, Florida, and the organization, in general, has employed over 300000 people united by the same cause. CVS Health offers opportunities for a range of professionals, doctors, pharmacy workers, as well as IT specialists, and retail workers. MinuteClinic reflects the company’s idea of inclusive services, working with people of all ages, ethnic groups, and backgrounds. The process is organized around the patient to meet their needs.
The interviewee has been employed as an FNP at MinuteClinic for several years. As the position suggests, Maria del Carmen works with people with entire families, and her consultations encompass all generations. This style of work is particularly demanding within the framework of patient-centered care. This model implies that the patient’s opinion should be the driving force of health care delivery in each particular case (Gusmano et al., 2019). Therefore, Maria must consider all variables for every patient with whom she works, as children, adults, and the elderly have different needs and issues. A small yet efficient team ensures the proper functioning of MinuteClinic in Miami. The interviewee enables effective information exchange between patients, physicians, and pharmacists that form the majority of her team. In addition, following modern trends, the clinic relies on the technological advancements of the 21st century as well, which is why there is an IT specialist present at all times. The number of people MinuteClinic serves daily varies and attains up to one hundred individuals on average.
Professional Licensing, Credentialing and Qualifications (Requirements) of Interviewee
The position of an FNP is highly important in today’s health care environment, which is why there is a set of requirements for each candidate. First of all, this job implies an Advanced Nursing Practice license. According to Schmid-Mohler et al. (2020), it allows nurses to partake in the clinical leadership process, improving interprofessional coordination, and patient communication. In addition, MinuteClinic would like to have their candidates complete a Family Nurse Practitioner program at the Master’s level. It is possible through an array of educational institutions that offer relevant programs, such as Capella University, Purdue University Global, and Grand Canyon University.
A current National Board Certification is another crucial requirement. In the case of Florida, this process is supervised by the Florida Board of Nursing located in Tallahassee and operating under Title 64B9 of Florida Administrative Codes (“Links and resources”, n.d.). Accreditation and certifying are administered by several boards, which are recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing. As far as FNP’s are concerned, Maria obtained her licensing and accreditation through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). Once the candidate has obtained relevant education and completed national certification, as well as professional licensure through the ANCC, they are eligible for an Advanced Nurse Practitioner license delivered by the state Board. Following this procedure, the license is to be renewed once in two years.
Overall, the procedure can be described within the framework of LACE (licensure, accreditation, certification, and education). The first step is to obtain a relevant university, which is possible nationwide. Once an educational program is complete, accreditation and certification are made by the ANCC recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing. Finally, the Board itself administers the Advanced Nurse Practitioner’s License, enabling the candidate to apply for the position of an FNP.
Competencies (Domains) including Certifications of Interviewee
The day-to-day duties of an FNP form an array of challenges that can be resolved effectively with the help of relevant professional and personal competencies. Maria del Carmen manages to work with four families on average per day, and the total number of her patients at the moment exceeds one hundred and ten. As mentioned earlier, working with different age groups is not an easy task, which is why an FNP is required to demonstrate a certain level of flexibility. Each generation has its particular needs, worries, and issues. Therefore, Maria has to adjust her practice to every individual case, whether it is an older adult with a long record of chronic diseases or a teenager whose parents want to ensure their healthy development. The interviewee is capable of processing each case individually, and her expertise extends beyond age groups.
Nevertheless, the difficulties, which an FNP faces in the line of work, become a valuable contribution to their professional development. Since such specialists work with all age groups, each having a different set of issues, a successful FNP has great career prospects. Moreover, having to make independent decisions is an integral component of their work, which makes such professionals suitable for leadership positions, as well. As the widely endorsed model of patient-centered care dictates, Maria considers a range of variables when conducting consultations. Besides the patients’ age, she takes into account their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, sexual identity, and personal preferences. As a result, people with whom Maria works can resolve their issues quickly.
Effective communication remains an integral component of an FNP’s work. According to Maria, it is vital to be a good listener, especially when working with older generations. When patients feel that they are heard, they tend to speak more openly about their concerns. The interviewee states that a profound understanding is another critical component of an FNP’s work, as it forms the primary difference between this position and the physician’s job. Despite multiple similarities, the latter focuses on the medical side of health care delivery, whereas an FNP, like other advanced nursing practitioners, is also responsible for the psychological well-being of the patient. The interviewee’s patients often address her with issues that may seem not serious at first. However, once mutual trust is established, individuals become ready to undergo a more thorough examination.
Brief Job Description, State Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act, including Allowances and Restrictions
The purpose of an FNP is to provide quality medical services to clients of all ages that come to the clinic. In most cases, such specialists develop treatment plans for both chronic and acute diseases, while promoting early prevention through education. FNPs play a role of paramount importance in disease prevention, as they work with patients of all ages, educating entire families. As a result, MinuteClinic has seen an increase in regular screenings and tests, leading to multiple cases of early detection and successful treatment of potentially debilitating conditions.
The work of a registered nurse in Florida is regulated by the Florida Board of Nursing. The state’s Nurse Practice Act is introduced in Chapter 464 of Florida Statutes with the intent to ensure safe and effective practice (“Links and resources”, n.d.). The Act promotes the equal delivery of health services to all people who need it, imposing strict regulations on nurse practitioners. According to it, any kind of practice is only possible with a valid license, and the use of expired or revoked certificates is to be punished as a third-degree felony (“The 2020 Florida Statutes”, 2020). The Act grants Advanced Practice Registered Nurses the right to work autonomously in several areas of primary care, including family medicine, which is the case for Maria del Carmen (“The 2020 Florida Statutes”, 2020). However, it restricts them from performing surgeries with the sole exception of subcutaneous procedures. Simultaneously, all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are obliged to report all incidents at their workplace, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Therefore, the Board’s regulations aim at creating a safe environment for all parties involved in health care delivery, including both patients and practitioners.
Conclusion
The role of a Family Nurse Practitioner is highly important in the modern health care environment. This position encompasses all age groups with their particular health-related issues. The importance of the job is emphasized by the strict requirements and regulations supervised by the Board of Nursing. In addition, a successful FNP must demonstrate excellent communication skills, independent thinking, and flexibility. These core competencies correlate with the principles of person-centered care and the expanding role of Advanced Nursing Practice.
References
Gusmano, M. K., Maschke, K. J., & Solomon, M. Z. (2019). Patient-centered care, yes; Patients as consumers, no. Health Affairs, 38(3). Web.
Links and Resources. (n.d.) Florida Board of Nursing. 2020, Web.
Schmid-Mohler, G., Clarenbach, C., Brenner, G., Kohler, M., Horvath, E., Spielmanns, M., & Petry, H. (2020). Advanced nursing practice in COPD exacerbations: The solution for a gap in Switzerland? ERJ Open Research, 6(2). Web.
The 2020 Florida Statutes. (2020). Online Sunshine.Web.
Appendix
Interview with Maria del Carmen, a MinuteClinic Familiy Nurse Practitioner, held on October 7, 2020
What are the responsibilities of an FNP?
Usually an FNP works along the same lines as other Advanced Practice Nurses. Providing consultations and necessary care, but they focus of family health and patients of all ages. Maria’s job is to ensure the well-being of each family through treatment plans, disease prevention education, regular examinations, and screening.
How are they different from those of a physician?
An Advanced Practice Nurse can be an important part of the decision-making process, but it is their duty to consider the psychological aspects of work. Maria ensures effective communication and understanding. She encourages people to speak openly about their issues, which enables trust in the medical team.
What are the key skills of an FNP?
First of all, an FNP must be qualified, as a nurse, just like any healthcare practitioner. In addition, a good FNP has excellent communication skills. They listen to people and let them express their feelings and concerns, but it is not always enough to listen. Maria must show her patients that they are actually heard, as is dictated by the patient-centered model and the principles of MinuteClinic.
What development directions are available for FNP?
Any FNP is an Advanced Practice Nurse, meaning that they are highly qualified in their area of expertise. Their education and daily duties promote independent thinking combined with effective teamwork, which makes them suitable for leadership positions. At the same time, working with different age groups provides Maria with vast development opportunities, since she has become familiar with particular needs of the majority of potential clients.
Is it difficult to work with different groups of the population at the same time?
According to Maria del Carmen, working with different age groups can be challenging, which is why an FNP must always remain flexible. Paradigms used in the case of teenage patients may prove to be completely useless when working with older adults. However, the efforts are rewarded, as Maria is able to develop multiple competencies during this process.
What difficulties do you face in your daily work?
Some patients at MinuteClinic can be difficult, which is often the case when working with people. On the other hand, Maria states that she knows the correct approach to calm aggressive clients, but she finds it hard to work with reserved people. Effective health care requires open communication, which is difficult when clients act as if they are being interrogated against their will.
Is it important for a nurse to make independent decisions?
The work of an FNP promotes independent thinking and autonomous decisions. However, such decisions still be taken within the greater framework of interprofessional cooperation. Moreover, despite the growing role of Advanced Practice Nurses, their autonomy remains limited by the Code of Nursing.
How many patients do you have at the moment?
The number of clients Maria serves per day varies, but the average number remains between fifteen and twenty people. Overall, she follows the cases of nearly one hundred people, about half of whom are regular clients, doing planned screenings.
What certificates does a good FNP need?
Overall, the procedure can be described within the framework of LACE (licensure, accreditation, certification, and education). The first step is to obtain a relevant university, which is possible nationwide. Once an educational program is complete, accreditation and certification are made by the ANCC recognized by the Florida Board of Nursing. Finally, the Board itself administers the Advanced Nurse Practitioner’s License, enabling the candidate to apply for the position of an FNP.
What medical needs do patients most often have?
Maria’s patients address her with a variety of medical issues of different degrees. However, she has noticed that the number of people who demonstrate a serious approach to their health and well-being has increased significantly over the recent years. As a rule, people want to undergo regular examinations at the clinic focused on prevention. Accordingly, there have been several cases when Maria helped them identify and cure potentially dangerous conditions at early stages.