Family nurse practitioners, who are sometimes referred to as FNPs or NPs, belong to one of the specialized areas of nursing for registered nurses. “Nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed, independent practitioners who practice in ambulatory, acute and long-term care as primary or specialty care providers. They provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families and groups in accordant with their practice specialties” (AANP, 2013, p.1). The path to becoming a nurse practitioner in the United States begin with obtaining a BSN, or Bachelor of Science in nursing, then afterward, becoming licensed as a registered nurse. Continued education and professional development are hallmarks of NP education (AANP, 2013). The next step in becoming
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In the past years, there has been a growth in the number of FNPs that have been trained within the United States, in which they account for 50% of the total nurse practitioners in the country (AANP, n.d.). Registered nurses that have specifically trained as family nurse practitioners can serve as both primary, and specialty health care providers. Like a family doctor, a family nurse practitioner typically works with patients of all ages, managing chronic and acute medical conditions, both in physical and mental areas; comprehensively gathering information about a patient’s history, conducting physical exams, prescribing medical treatments and diagnostic tests. Within their scope of practice, a nurse practitioner is permitted and qualified to diagnose conditions, as well as prescribe medication, make referrals for a wide range of chronic and acute conditions, and order treatments. However, the scope of care which can be provided by a nurse practitioner will vary according to individual’s credentials, state, experience and …show more content…
As an APRN, it is difficult to start one’s own primary care clinic in Texas. The restriction makes it impossible for APRN to practice outside the scope as a primary care physician. As a matter of fact, “the regulations discourage physicians from including supervision of nurse practitioners in their own practices. the Texas requires that a doctor supervising nurse practitioners be physically present and spend at least 20 percent of her time overseeing them creates an incentive for the physician to require nurse practitioners in her office to be employees, rather than maintain their status as self-employed professionals” (Goodman et al, 2011, p.2). Under the Texas law, a NP willingly to open his or her practice must be located within 75 miles of a supervising physician in order to supervise nurse practitioners. According to Goodman et al. the rationale for the restrictions in Texas is the patient may not receive quality of care
In the past years, there has been a growth in the number of FNPs that have been trained within the United States, in which they account for 50% of the total nurse practitioners in the country (AANP, n.d.). Registered nurses that have specifically trained as family nurse practitioners can serve as both primary, and specialty health care providers. Like a family doctor, a family nurse practitioner typically works with patients of all ages, managing chronic and acute medical conditions, both in physical and mental areas; comprehensively gathering information about a patient’s history, conducting physical exams, prescribing medical treatments and diagnostic tests. Within their scope of practice, a nurse practitioner is permitted and qualified to diagnose conditions, as well as prescribe medication, make referrals for a wide range of chronic and acute conditions, and order treatments. However, the scope of care which can be provided by a nurse practitioner will vary according to individual’s credentials, state, experience and …show more content…
As an APRN, it is difficult to start one’s own primary care clinic in Texas. The restriction makes it impossible for APRN to practice outside the scope as a primary care physician. As a matter of fact, “the regulations discourage physicians from including supervision of nurse practitioners in their own practices. the Texas requires that a doctor supervising nurse practitioners be physically present and spend at least 20 percent of her time overseeing them creates an incentive for the physician to require nurse practitioners in her office to be employees, rather than maintain their status as self-employed professionals” (Goodman et al, 2011, p.2). Under the Texas law, a NP willingly to open his or her practice must be located within 75 miles of a supervising physician in order to supervise nurse practitioners. According to Goodman et al. the rationale for the restrictions in Texas is the patient may not receive quality of care