Introduction
Family nurse practitioners handle responsibilities such as those undertaken by medical doctors. They care for patients all through their family life cycles. The experts are required to undergo through a course in master’s degree before practicing. In their roles, they are expected to offer education, psychotherapy, and tests to a varied group of patients (Kessler & Alverson, 2013). Similarly, they are required to support health campaigns and disease prevention programs.
Usually, a family nurse practitioner should be able to identify and improve treatment plans for severe and prolonged diseases. Based on the above roles, family nurse practitioners should expect to work with organizations that enable them to render health services as physicians do (Kessler & Alverson, 2013). The article below illustrates an organization where family nurse practitioners are expected to work.
Nurse-managed health center (NMHC)
NMHC is a clinic managed by nurse practitioners in the US (Kessler & Alverson, 2013). The organization is an ideal workplace for family nurse practitioners. Family nurse practitioners at NMHC are not only equipped with vast knowledge in advance nursing but also in management. Knowledge in advanced nursing and management enables them to examine the patients’ health condition, offer health promotion services, make a diagnosis, and treat ordinary sensitive health problems and direct care for steady but persistently ill patients. Based on the above capabilities the nurses are best suited to work in NMHC rather than in other health centers.
Although today’s NMHC can be traced back to the last twenty years, the notion that nursing is entrenched in the loyalty to public service and the irrefutable longing to assist the needy dates back to the early 20th century. For centuries, nurses have always upheld the conviction that their profession is not all about tackling diseases, but also an obligation to deliver excellent patient care personalized to meet the needs of every individual regardless of their social classes. Currently, there are over two hundred and fifty NMHC centers in America. The centers offer services to persons that are demographically analogous to those attended by FQHCs (Kessler & Alverson, 2013).
NMHC centers have the ability to diagnose diseases, recommend medication, offer medical referrals, oversee prenatal care during pregnancy, and participate and manage medical research projects (Scully & Hackbarth, 2005). The organization’s centers seek to meet the needs of American communities. The center offers the much-needed health care services in isolated areas in both the rural and urban areas across the US. Through their programs, the organization provides health care services to a number of vulnerable American communities. A half of the clients served in the centers come from minority communities. The initiatives have increased health care access to a number of uninsured and underinsured individuals annually (Scully & Hackbarth, 2005).
A board of nursing supporting the above roles in NMHC
Before the year 1971, nurses practice act in the US prohibited nurses from diagnosing patients (Schwab & Gelfman, 2001). In the years that followed the act was amended to allow registered nurses to undertake the practice. The amendment allows nurses to diagnose and treat patients in the absence of physician’s supervision (Schwab & Gelfman, 2001). At NMHC, I will be required to offer education, psychotherapy, and tests to a varied group of patients as supported by the Nurse Practice Act.
Similarly, the act mandates that before an individual practices as a family nurse practitioner, he or she should be required to undergo through a course in master’s degree to be eligible (Schwab & Gelfman, 2001). As such, family nurse practitioners were once RN (registered nurses). The nurses have undergone through the degree course enabling them to become family practitioners. The master’s degree in nursing equips the nurses with knowledge on how to enhance healthy interactions with patients, their relatives, and the society.
In addition, the course equips the experts with the much-needed knowledge in hospital administration enabling them to function effectively at NMHC and other related health care centers (Schwab & Gelfman, 2001). With the above credentials, I can deliver the services offered by medical physicians as illustrated in the Nurse Practice Act.
Conclusion
Because family nurse practitioners upheld caring for the needy persons throughout their life cycles with the outmost empathy and integrity, it would be appropriate for them to work at the NMHC. Unlike other health care centers, the center would enable the experts to exploit their knowledge, experience, morals, and attitudes by helping the needy in the society. Usually, family nurse practitioners are required to uphold a healthy relationship with their patients, to be their supporter, and above all treat everyone with admiration.
At NMHC, nurses believe that their profession is entrenched in the loyalty to public service and the irrefutable longing to assist the needy (Schwab & Gelfman, 2001). Considered that the above ideals are upheld in NMHC, the experts will be able to provide their duties with diligence (Kessler & Alverson, 2013). In general, working at the center would enable family nurse practitioners to advance their professional growth.
References
Kessler, T. A., & Alverson, E. (2013). Health Concerns and Learning Styles of Underserved and Uninsured Clients at a Nurse Managed Center. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 20(2), 81-92.
Schwab, N., & Gelfman, M. H. (2001). Legal issues in school health services: a resource for school administrators, school attorneys, school nurses. North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press.
Scully, J., & Hackbarth, D. (2005). School-based health centers ; and Nurse-managed health centers. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.