In the modern US healthcare system, nurse practitioners (NPs) are more in demand than ever. Given the fact that doctor shortages are common and the difficulties in some areas of people accessing healthcare, the role that NPs play is arguably nothing short of crucial. Today, given both the importance of nurse practitioners and their increased status, it should come as no surprise to learn that many registered nurses (RNs) are looking to qualify in this area.
In this article, we will take a look at the potential paths open to RNs and NPs interested in continuing their education, encompassing not only formal college learning, but also on-the-job training and personal lifelong learning. In addition, we will also look at why it is so important to stay up to date in this kind of profession and the vital role that experience plays in medicine.
Key position in healthcare
Nurse practitioners play an extremely important role in both social and private healthcare. In addition to being trained to perform the same roles and duties as all registered nurses, NPs are also – in many but not all states – qualified to perform a range of extra responsibilities, such as prescribing medicine, performing detailed examinations, ordering tests, making diagnoses and outlining treatment plans. Generally speaking, nurse practitioners tend to enjoy higher pay, greater autonomy and more balanced working schedules than most registered nurses.
In many cases, nurse practitioners form part of a complex medical team. They often provide support and work in close contact with general physicians and specialist doctors. In other cases, however, particularly in rural areas where there is a marked shortage of physicians, they may be responsible for providing patients with primary medical care without the presence of a physician.
Fields of expertise
Just like any other nurses, most NPs can be expected to provide many different healthcare services over the course of their career and work in various areas. Nurse practitioners can be found in a wide range of settings, from medical offices to hospitals, psychiatric care facilities and specialist clinics. As their career develops, however, many NPs will look to specialize in a given area of the medical profession. In many cases, this will be as an expert in family health. Other options include mental health, drug treatment, working with elderly patients or pediatric care.
There are several benefits to this kind of specialization. Firstly, it enables nurses to provide an even higher level of care to their patients through greater in-depth knowledge of their chosen field. In addition, it can also provide them with the opportunity to earn higher pay and achieve better working conditions, in combination with the ability to help further define their career path. Anyone qualifying as a nurse practitioner will likely move towards some degree of specialization over the course of their education.
Educational paths
In the US, to become a nurse practitioner, you first need to qualify as a registered nurse and complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Nurses who do not yet have a master’s degree will then usually look to complete a master’s in their chosen specialist field, such as a Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP). On the other hand, if someone already has a master’s degree in nursing but would like to become a specialized nurse practitioner, they are more likely to select a post-master’s instead.
Completing an online Family Nurse Practitioner course through a reputable educational institution such as Rockhurst University is an excellent option for someone who already has a master’s degree and is interested in providing care as a nurse practitioner for families. The Rockhurst post-master’s FNP program enables students to increase their level of expertise through an online course that also offers clinical experience. In addition to examining advanced medicine practices and evidence-based approaches, the course also provides students with the opportunity to learn more about the importance of technology in modern healthcare, the role of mental health, advanced pharmacology and advanced pathophysiology.
Learning never stops
Naturally, the learning path of any nurse practitioner does not end upon graduation — quite the opposite. First and foremost, clinical experience is likely to form the backbone of the career of any nurse practitioner. Adding to the experience gained in their previous work as a general registered nurse, they will also build a significant amount of applied knowledge as an NP. That know-how and practical expertise are often crucial in improving patient outcomes.
In addition to practical experience, most nurse practitioners also tend to be committed to the concept of lifelong learning. This can take many forms. Naturally, there is a wealth of information both online and in book form, and personal reading and study can be an extremely valuable learning tool. In addition, many medical institutions offer various formal and informal ways to improve nurses’ knowledge and skills, including training sessions, paid courses and mentoring programs. There are also several organizations available for nurse practitioners that can provide further opportunities for learning, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
A valuable and valued contribution
Overall, opportunities for further learning and education provide a wide range of benefits for nurses, including more advanced qualifications that can lead to better pay, working conditions and greater autonomy, and a wider range of skills and knowledge that can benefit not only the nurses themselves, but also patients and the medical institutions that they work for.
Although some nurses — perhaps understandably given the intense nature of the job — are content to work hard at the tasks in hand, others are keen to push and extend themselves through further formal education. One of the best ways to do this is to qualify as a nurse practitioner and then look to further learning processes in order to develop an even greater level of expertise in a given field. After all, when it comes to the field of health, the more advanced the professional, the greater the level of expertise, and the greater the reassurance for the patient that they are in the very best hands.
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