Research and Describe Family Nurse Practitioners Role in Acute Care

Family Nurse Practitioners Role in Acute Care
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Family Nurse Practitioners Role in Acute Care
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are nationally and state recognized advanced practice registered nurses whose career practice involves the care of patients throughout their lifespan, from conception to infantry and even adulthood (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2013). A nurse practitioner can, therefore, choose a patient population to focus on and acquire certain customer-focused training required to ensure efficient health care to that particular population. The main objective of FNPs is to ensure better healthcare in society through effective prevention, control, and treatment of diseases, promotion of health and health education, and advanced health service delivery. Therefore, family nurse practitioners are trained and have the skills necessary in handling acute and chronic illnesses, providing women’s health and well-being, and offering pediatric health services. For the purpose of this study, the paper focuses on the acute care nurse practitioner role, trends, and its impact on patient’s outcome.
One of the newest role of Family Nurse Practitioners is provision of advanced nursing care to patients with complex acute, critical, and chronic conditions. The FNPs who specialize in this field are known as Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (ACNPs). However, the ACNPs role and scope of practice is continuously widening (Kleinpell, 2015). Initially, acute care role was meant for nurses who handled complicated patients’ issues in critical patient settings such as the intensive care units, which is not the case today. The ACNP role covers both traditional and modern care settings, that is, acute and critical care inpatient setting, specialty-based clinics, and private practice groups. There still exists uncertainty about the role of ACNPs, besides being recognized members of acute care teams. Based on their educational preparation and national certification, the role of ACNPs is to provide care for patients with acute and critical health conditions. The dimensions of acute and critical care have evolved and expanded beyond the hospital setting thus creating new opportunities for ACNP practice. According to studies, ACNP roles are significantly evolving based on specialty and collaborative practice roles. However, the unit based roles of ACNP have remained constant over the past five years (Norris & Melby, 2012). Some of the newly developed competencies in ACNP practice include management of acute illness states, assessment and diagnosis of health status, and performance of interventions and diagnostic strategies to promote stability. Teaching, coaching, and maintenance of quality care are part of the advanced practice nursing roles. Although ICU and acute care tertiary setting are the main areas for practicing the ACNP role, other unique practice settings are gradually emerging.
There are numerous advantages in ACNP practice including autonomy, direct patient interaction and care, and opportunities for collaboration. Basic responsibilities of ACNP practice revolve around direct management of patient care. Besides other sub-roles such as education, quality initiatives, and research,...