The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Is The Role I Have Consi
The Family Nurse Practitioner Fnp Is The Role I Have Considered Thi
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is the role I have considered. This role focuses on a broad area of nursing and involves important responsibilities such as disease management, health education, and preventative medicine. I look forward to pursuing my education and becoming an FNP.
Providing care to patients of all ages is my primary interest. I believe three critical issues are most important regarding this role: full practice authority, NP reimbursement, and physician resistance. Full practice authority (FPA) refers to the ability of nurse practitioners to work independently, evaluating patients, diagnosing conditions, and ordering prescriptions without physician oversight (DePriest, 2020). In some states, NPs can acquire additional education and hours working under a physician to qualify for FPA. Patients benefit from FPA because it allows for more accessible and timely care.
Nurse practitioners can significantly impact healthcare by improving access, reducing costs, and offering patients more choices. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2020), NPs contribute to healthcare improvements through these pathways. However, despite these benefits, NP reimbursement remains an issue, as NPs historically receive lower compensation than physicians. A 2007 survey indicated that 53% of managed care organizations credentialed NPs as primary care providers; of these, 56% reimbursed NPs at the same rate as physicians, while 38% reimbursed at a lower rate (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2011). This discrepancy affects the financial viability of NP services and impacts practice growth.
Physician resistance also presents a challenge. Some physicians oppose expanding NP practice scopes, asserting that nurses lack the medical education, clinical knowledge, and technical skills necessary for independent practice. Concerns about prescriptive authority expansion are rooted in fears that it may lead to decreased care quality or increased costs. Physicians argue that NPs should not replace or expand upon physicians' roles, citing the uniqueness of medical training and expertise (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2011).
Looking ahead, the future Family Nurse Practitioner synthesizes knowledge from values, theories, ethics, and legal statutes. NPs practice with compassion, grounded in nursing knowledge and within the scope of state regulations. My personal philosophy aligns with preparing myself through education, acquiring knowledge, and developing skills to provide effective and compassionate patient care. As exemplified in the video interview with Steve, an FNP, the role involves caring for patients across the lifespan with empathy and dedication. I aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of all age groups I serve and to grow professionally as an FNP.
References
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2020). State Practice Environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment
- DePriest, J. (2020). Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 11(2), 30-35.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2011). Reimbursement policies for nurse practitioners. Healthcare Policy Journal, 15(3), 45-52.
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2020). The Role and Impact of Family Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org
- Schneider, A., & Stull, C. (2019). Expanding Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners. Nursing Outlook, 67(3), 243-250.
- O'Grady, E. (2022). Physician Resistance to Nurse Practitioner Practice. Medical Practice Management Review, 28(4), 28-33.
- Newhouse, R. P., et al. (2011). Advanced Practice Nurse Outcomes. Nursing Economics, 29(2), 81-90.
- Furlow, B. (2018). Impact of Reimbursement Policies on Nurse Practitioner Practice. Health Care Financing Review, 39(1), 85-90.
- Brady, L. M., & Heitkamp, P. (2020). The Growing Role of Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 11, 215013272092896.
- Haas, K., & Murphy, L. (2019). Legal and Ethical Considerations in NP Practice. Journal of Nursing Law, 22(3), 45-52.