As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, so does the role of the family nurse practitioner (FNP). FNPs face various challenges and opportunities during their careers. They also have opportunities to expand their services beyond the traditional in-person visits, leverage technology to reach more patients and provide more efficient care and play a more significant role in preventative care and public health. This article explores the challenges and opportunities for FNPs in these areas, as well as their evolving role in meeting the changing healthcare needs of communities.
The challenges and opportunities
As a family nurse practitioner, there are several challenges and opportunities that arise due to the various factors that impact the modern healthcare industry. Here is a brief overview of those challenges and opportunities:
Increased cost-of-living
The increasing minimum pay may result in a higher cost of living, which puts pressure on FNPs to raise their fees. This could lead to a potential decrease in the demand for FNP services, especially in areas where patients may not be able to afford higher fees. It can also lead to unnecessary health conditions that could have been prevented or worsening symptoms that are easily treated.
Alternatively, an increase in minimum pay and better benefits packages from employers could lead to more people having access to healthcare. This leads to an increase in the demand for FNP services, as patients recognize the importance of prioritizing their health so they can continue to earn and provide for themselves and their dependents. This also means higher pay for FNPs, which would help to attract and retain qualified professionals.
With the increased demand for FNP services, healthcare organizations may also have more resources to invest in programs and training, resulting in a more skilled and competent workforce. This, in turn, could lead to improved health outcomes for patients and increased job satisfaction for FNPs.
Investing in education is another way for FNPs to become better equipped to meet the evolving healthcare needs of their communities, improve patient outcomes, and ultimately, contribute to the overall improvement of the healthcare system. Due to the initial cost of earning qualifications, family nurse practitioners should expect their pay to reflect this investment. While the pay may not be the main motivation for anyone wanting to pursue this career, it helps them to know they can earn what they need and live a more comfortable life outside of work. This allows them to direct more of their attention to their role within the healthcare system.
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry. FNPs have had to adapt to new protocols and practices to ensure patient safety, which leads to additional stress and burnout.
COVID-19 also presented several opportunities. It has led to an increase in demand for virtual care and telehealth, which provides an opportunity for FNPs to expand their services to reach more patients. The pandemic has brought more attention to the importance of preventative care and public health, which can mean increased funding and resources for FNP programs that aim to achieve this goal.
For nursing practitioners, this presents an opportunity to expand their services to more than just in-person visits and make use of technology to reach more patients and provide more cost-effective care. FNPs can offer virtual consultations, monitor patient progress remotely and provide health education to patients in real time. This approach can be particularly beneficial for patients in rural or remote areas, who may not have easy access to in-person medical care, or those who would otherwise be deterred by an in-person appointment or having to take unpaid time off work.
Virtual care and telehealth
Providing remote healthcare can be challenging due to the requirement for additional training and technology. This may be a barrier for some FNPs who lack technological skills or have full workloads and commitments outside of work that make it difficult to find time for more training. There may also be limitations to the effectiveness of virtual care for certain types of patients and conditions.
However, there are opportunities presented by virtual healthcare and telehealth. In addition to those we’ve already mentioned, such as being able to reach more patients and provide care in a more convenient and accessible way, it can initially be a way of screening patients with less serious or urgent health concerns.
Once FNPs have mastered how to use the necessary technology, they can conduct virtual consultations with patients, diagnose their symptoms and provide treatment recommendations or prescribe medication as needed. They then have the option to invite patients for an in-person appointment or refer them to the relevant specialist.
Nurses can learn more about the technology required to provide virtual healthcare through programs such as the Marymount University Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner program. In addition to offering some of the best online FNP programs, Marymount University offers a wide range of specialized nursing programs. Their FNP program is offered entirely online, allowing you to continue to care for family, or work alongside your studies. The university also has a Placement Team, which assists students in finding clinical placements that are conveniently located.
Virtual care has many benefits for patients with chronic conditions. They can receive regular check-ins with their FNPs, allowing them to better manage their health and prevent complications.
Managing health at the patient’s home
Providing home healthcare also requires additional training and resources and may not be workable for all FNPs. The equipment may be too complex or expensive to use in patients’ homes, or unrealistic for FNPs without access to a vehicle to transport. Additionally, there may be limitations to the effectiveness of home health for certain types of patients and conditions. These can be better managed in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Providing healthcare in patients’ homes still presents opportunities in some cases. Patients who can be treated this way can be cared for in a more comfortable and familiar setting. This may lead to better outcomes. It can be a more cost-effective and efficient way to provide care for certain types of patients.
For example, a patient who has recently undergone surgery and needs regular monitoring and care to ensure proper healing, can reduce costs by not staying in a hospital. This can be particularly beneficial for elderly patients who may have difficulty traveling to and from healthcare facilities or enable families to share in the care of the patient.
Patients who require ongoing care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory illnesses can benefit from home health services. By receiving care at home, aside from avoiding costly hospital stays, patients can reduce their risk of exposure to infections and other health conditions.
Home health services are also an opportunity for FNPs to provide more personalized care to their patients. By visiting patients in their homes, FNPs gain a better understanding of their patients’ living environments, daily routines and social support networks. This information helps to tailor care plans to better meet the individual needs of their patients, often resulting in better outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.
Mergers and acquisitions
The consolidation of healthcare businesses can be challenging as it frequently results in changes to the healthcare system and may lead to decreased autonomy for FNPs.
This also provides an opportunity for FNPs to collaborate with other healthcare professionals and organizations to provide more comprehensive and coordinated care for patients and to address any procedures and policies that aren’t working as well as they should be.
If a healthcare center has recently merged with a hospital, the center now has access to additional resources and support from the hospital, including specialists, diagnostic tools and electronic health records. This allows the FNP at the healthcare center to provide more comprehensive and coordinated care for their patients by collaborating with other healthcare professionals within the hospital.
In the event a patient at the healthcare center has a complex medical condition that requires the expertise of a specialist, the FNP can refer the patient to a specialist within the hospital. A collaboration with the hospital’s diagnostic imaging department may also make it easier to schedule the required tests or procedures for the patient.
Cooperative competition
Conflicts of interest and disagreements may arise due to difficulties experienced with regards to cooperative competition.
Despite this, it presents more opportunities than challenges. Cooperative competition can also provide better opportunities for FNPs to collaborate and share resources with other healthcare professionals, which can lead to better results for patients.
For instance, a group of primary care providers in a rural area who are in cooperative competition with each other often operate independently. When they need to work together, they share resources and collaborate on patient care. This includes sharing electronic health records, medical equipment and staff resources.
If one provider has a patient who requires a specialist consultation, the provider can refer the patient to a specialist within the cooperative network, ensuring the patient receives timely and appropriate care that matches the quality and efficiency of care provided in larger towns and cities. The provider will also have access to the patient’s electronic health records because these are shared among the network to ensure continuity of care.
Cooperative competition provides further opportunities for FNPs to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists, social workers and other specialists, to provide more comprehensive care for patients. This includes joint consultations, case management and other combined efforts to address the social, emotional and medical needs of patients.
Consumerism
Family nurse practitioners are presented with both challenges and opportunities due to consumerism. On one side of the scale, increased consumerism leads to greater demands and expectations from patients. They are becoming increasingly informed and empowered to make decisions about their own healthcare, which means increased pressure on FNPs to provide more comprehensive and personalized care. Patients may expect faster response times, more flexible scheduling and more transparency regarding their healthcare costs.
Consumerism can provide an opportunity for FNPs to focus on patient-centered care and deliver more personalized services to each patient. Due to consumerism, patients are increasingly interested in taking an active role in their healthcare and seeking providers who offer this type of personalized care that aligns with their values and preferences.
FNPs can leverage this opportunity by taking a patient-centered approach to care and involving patients in their healthcare decisions. For instance, FNPs work with patients to develop individualized care plans that take into account their unique health goals, lifestyle and preferences. FNPs can also use digital tools to provide more convenient and accessible care, such as telehealth, as discussed earlier.
Cybersecurity
Our increasing reliance on technology has led to cybersecurity becoming an important issue for healthcare professionals, including family nurse practitioners. As healthcare becomes increasingly digitized, the risk of cybersecurity threats and data breaches also increases. A cybersecurity breach can result in the loss of patient data or other sensitive information. This can be damaging to the reputation of healthcare professionals and organizations. It often results in legal and financial consequences, such as fines or lawsuits.
To address this challenge, FNPs must take steps to ensure that patient data and other sensitive information is protected. This includes implementing strong cybersecurity measures, such as encryption, access controls and data backups. FNPs should also stay up to date with the latest cybersecurity threats and trends and implement training and awareness programs for staff and patients.
While cybersecurity threats are a challenge, there are present opportunities for FNPs to use technology to enhance the delivery of care. For instance, new technologies such as telehealth and remote monitoring can provide more convenient and accessible care for patients, while also reducing the risk of exposure to infectious diseases. These technologies can also provide opportunities to collect and analyze patient data to improve treatment outcomes and develop more personalized care plans. If healthcare organizations can create safe methods of storing information and effectively protecting their patient’s private details, they can benefit from a wealth of knowledge that helps them do their jobs more efficiently.
To take advantage of these opportunities, FNPs must ensure that their technology solutions are secure and comply with all applicable regulations and standards. They must also stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in healthcare technology and invest in training and resources to stay ahead of the curve.
Make a difference as an FNP today
FNPs face several challenges, but these also provide opportunities for them to expand their services and play a more significant role in preventative care and public health. By leveraging technology and adapting to new practices, FNPs can reach more patients, provide more efficient care and improve health outcomes. Investing in education and training can also contribute to the overall improvement of the healthcare system. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, FNPs have a crucial role to play in meeting the changing healthcare needs of communities.
