Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and have experience gained through a work placement, even before starting their career. They are qualified to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including primary care, specialty care, and acute care.
The specialisms can include family nurse practitioner, neonatal practitioner, and women’s health nurse, among others. Each one contributes positively to the healthcare system. Here are some specific examples of how APRNs can improve patient outcomes.
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs)
Family nurse practitioners can help to improve patient outcomes in a variety of areas, including access to care, chronic disease management, and preventative care.
Where do family nurse practitioners work? Some choose to provide care for patients of all ages in rural and underserved areas, helping families who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. They can also help patients to manage their chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, and provide preventive care, such as vaccinations and screenings. For those wishing to take on the role of a family nurse practitioner, an online FNP degree program is one good study option. Reputable institutions, such as Texas Women’s University, provide high-quality, affordable courses. The online nature of such programs means that anyone who wants to pursue a career in the rural area they live in can access the coursework without traveling. These programs prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this career.
While the FNP role is useful in any healthcare setting, providing primary care services in rural and underserved areas is particularly important. The people who live in these areas often have difficulty finding a doctor, which can lead to delays in care and worsen health outcomes. Even for those with vehicles, the cost of regular travel to treat chronic illness can contribute to stress, expenses, and loss of earnings.
Chronic illness can lead to serious complications if left untreated. This is important because CDC statistics show that diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease account for some of the leading causes of death in the United States. It’s unclear exactly how many deaths can be and are avoided by having easier access to healthcare, but it’s reasonable to assume better access equals better health management.
An FNP can educate patients and help them manage their conditions and avoid contributing to the statistics. They can also prescribe medications and monitor patients’ progress with regular appointments and check-ups.
Preventive care, such as vaccinations and screenings, are also things that FNPs help their patients with. Helping to prevent diseases improves health outcomes when compared to the effectiveness of treating pre-existing diseases. FNPs can also provide patients with education about preventive care and help them to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Not all health problems can be prevented, but many can be managed effectively with the right measures and regular monitoring.
Neonatal nurse practitioners (NPNs)
Neonatal nurse practitioners can help to improve patient outcomes in a variety of areas, including mortality, length of hospitalization, breastfeeding, and parent education in areas they may be struggling with.
One example is helping to reduce the mortality rate of newborns, especially those born preterm or with other complications. They can also help to shorten the length of stay for newborns in hospital and provide information and support to their parents.
Preventing infections is important because newborns are vulnerable. Infections that are not serious in healthy adults are more severe in newborns. NPNs help by following evidence-based practices during the mother and baby’s stay, then showing the parents how to continue this before returning home.
NPNs can help to manage pain in newborns by using evidence-based pain assessment tools and by providing appropriate pain relief. In healthy babies, this is rarely an issue, but when there have been complications, the baby may need extra care and attention.
The neonatal nurse can also promote development in newborns up to the age of two by providing early intervention services and by working with parents to create a stimulating environment. For example, they might need to help young children who are struggling with developmental delays or disabilities. This can assist children with improving their skills in areas such as communication, motor skills, and social-emotional development.
Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs)
Pediatric nurse practitioners contribute to improved patient outcomes in a number of ways. This includes improving access to care, chronic disease management, pre-emptive care, and mental health services. They may take over some of the care previously provided by neonatal nurses as the child ages.
They can also focus on providing care for children in rural and underserved areas. Whichever location they work in, they help children to manage their chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, and obesity. These can be especially challenging for younger people, as young people often have weaker support systems than adults and face greater social pressures. Children can be cruel and have an ignorant attitude toward those with differences. This can often be because of fear of things they don’t understand, but education can help patients and others understand different medical conditions. They can then convey this to their friends and teachers who may need a level of understanding in case of an emergency.
The pediatric nurse, as with other specializations, can also provide preventative care, such as vaccinations and screenings. They can also help children with mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. With 20% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 having poor mental health, this is more important than ever. This is the age a child is developing, so helping them with their mental health can make all the difference later in life.
PNPs can also screen children for developmental delays. Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect people in different ways and can make a person feel different and even cause them to dislike themselves. Getting a diagnosis earlier in life can be helpful for the child to understand themselves and learn self-acceptance. It also means they can find their way around obstacles and different ways of doing things. Early intervention often improves the outcomes for children with developmental delays.
Nurses can also provide care for children with special needs, including those with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, or mental health problems. They can work with families to develop care plans that meet the individual needs of each child.
Advocating for children is another important task that leads to more positive results. PNPs can advocate to ensure that their patients receive the care they need. They can also work with families to communicate with other providers and specialists. It can be difficult for some families to navigate the healthcare system and access the right resources—this is where the nurse can help, ensuring the resources meet the needs of the patient and advising whether there might be a better option available.
Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs)
The work that women’s health nurse practitioners carry out also helps to improve patient outcomes. This covers prenatal care, sexual health, and breast health. For example, a WHNP can help women to have healthy pregnancies and deliveries. For many, this isn’t a problem, but some can experience problems conceiving or complications during pregnancy. The nurse will either be able to help or will know the best specialists to refer the patient to.
In addition, they can provide education and care for women’s sexual health, from contraception and avoiding or recovering from sexually transmitted infections, to advice when going through menopause. Many symptoms of this can be mistaken for other health conditions—despite the unpleasant experiences that come with menopause, it can be reassuring to know it’s not something else. The nurse can also prescribe medication and suggest small changes to alleviate the symptoms. If the patient is struggling with this new stage in their life, they can be referred for counseling.
The WHNP can also help to provide care for women with breast health issues by providing breast cancer screenings and referring patients to treatment if these show cancerous cells.
WHNPs can also provide comprehensive prenatal care to women, including assessments and screenings. They can help women to develop birth plans and to choose the right type of delivery for them. This may result in not needing medical help in conceiving, as the issue may be easy to resolve. Prenatal care can lead to improved birth outcomes, such as lower rates of preterm birth and cesarean deliveries. This reduces the pressures on other nursing professionals and resources, and leads to a better experience for the mother.
Providing education and care for women on sexual health can also lead to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies or infections. This makes sure patients don’t have to spend extra money on healthcare. Prevention is the cheaper option and better for their overall health. Nurses may help women to make informed decisions about their sexual health and gain access to the resources they need.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs)
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners specialize in assessing and diagnosing mental illness and delivering tailored treatment to help the patient. They are qualified to prescribe medication, provide therapy, and order diagnostic tests. They play an important role in improving patient outcomes in a variety of ways.
PMHNPs can provide care in rural and underserved areas, where there may be a shortage of mental health providers. They can also help to reduce wait times for mental health appointments, which is crucial in helping people before their mental health deteriorates further.
Mental health nurses also have the training and expertise to provide evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. They can also help patients to develop coping skills and to manage their symptoms. By educating patients and providing support, including coping mechanisms and therapy, mental health nurses can help prevent patients from being hospitalized.
The skills and qualities these nurses need include strong communication skills, empathy, and the ability to build trust with patients. They should also be able to provide care holistically, taking into account the patient’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. This increases the positive results and improvements in patients’ mental health.
In addition, PMHNPs can also be important in suicide prevention. Providing assessments and treatment for people who are at risk lowers this threat. They can also talk to patients and families about suicide prevention and provide resources for supporting a loved one with mental illness.
PMHNPs also help people with chronic mental health conditions to manage their symptoms and to live fulfilling lives. The medication, therapy, and support they offer patients can help them to manage their conditions and to achieve their goals. With the right support, patients may eventually be able to manage their own conditions with minimal intervention.
Patients may struggle with explaining their conditions and seeking the right support. By advocating for patients, PMHNPs ensure that they receive the care they need. Nurses can work with patients to communicate with providers, navigate the healthcare system, and direct them to relevant resources. For those who feel like nobody is listening to them, it makes a significant difference.
Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AGPCNPs)
Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in the care of older adults. They have extensive medical training, including a specialization in geriatrics, and are qualified to provide a wide range of healthcare services to older adults.
They can help to improve patient outcomes, with better access to care for older adults in rural areas. They also help in cities where patients have limited mobility and struggle to travel freely. This is important because older adults in these areas are often at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing healthcare. An AGPCNP can help to bridge the gap and ensure that all older adults have access to the care they need. They may visit patients at home, provide remote appointments or refer them to services where someone can visit them regularly.
The AGPCNP can help older adults to manage their chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They can help the patient make lifestyle changes and adhere to treatment plans. Later in life, there can be complications, and patients can be more at risk—some small changes may reduce these risks and help to improve their quality of life.
AGPCNPs can also provide preventative care, which is important for older adults because they are at an increased risk for certain diseases and conditions. The AGPCNP will help to identify and prevent these diseases before they become serious.
They can help patients to reduce their risk of falls. Tripping leads to a greater risk of injury and death among this age group. Nurses can assess older adults’ risk for falls, provide interventions, and give advice to reduce their risk. This might include moving their bedroom downstairs, walking with a stick, and moving items to lower shelves to avoid having to stand on a portable step to reach them.
Taking multiple medications can become complicated as memory deteriorates in older adults. This can lead to patients mis-dosing their medication, which can be a significant health risk. The AGPCNP can assess older adults’ medication schedules, make recommendations for changes, and provide ways of making it easier to take the right dose at the required times. This might involve having someone visit to administer the medication and keeping it away from the patient at other times.
They may also be involved in providing end-of-life care to older adults and supporting their families in making difficult decisions. This is an important and sensitive topic, and the AGPCNP can provide support and guidance to help families make the best decisions for their loved ones.
Like other specialists, AGPCNPs may need to advocate for their patients to ensure that they receive the care they need. They can communicate with other care providers to avoid the patient getting confused and agreeing to something they don’t understand.
AGPCNPs can also help older adults with a variety of other health-related issues, such as struggles with mental health, finding support groups, and any other related help they need to adapt to the changes brought about by their ill health.
Conclusion
Pursuing any of these specialisms will have a positive impact on patient outcomes. Each requires comprehensive, specialized, and patient-centered care. Many of the tasks overlap across the specialisms, such as advocating for patients at different stages in their life and helping them to take more control of their own health. They also require specific expertise of the patient group they work with and often work alongside other healthcare professionals. Working in a more generalized role to begin with will help you decide which is the best specialism for you if you’re still unsure.
