The clinical practice of family medicine has suffered tremendous staffing shortages across the professional board. Despite the constraints on the generalized arenas of medicine, the need for qualified general family practitioners has not declined in comparison. The involvements of nurse practitioners play a vital role in family practice medicine.
There are many contributing factors to the current shortages of advanced nurses in the medical field. The lightening speed developments in technology have bounded other realms of medicine into the spotlight for drawing candidates into specialized training programs. Life saving, cutting edge technology is not often applied into family practice clinics, as it is unnecessary and expensive for doctors who treat basic wounds and illnesses. These doctors and nurses focus instead on wellness planning and preventative health measures.
Technology savvy candidates are lured into more exciting fields of study than general clinical studies. Medical students often predict that they will be more marketable as a physician if they receive specialized training in one of many content areas of medicine.
Nurse practitioners are an integral part of staffing recovery for overburdened hospitals and clinics. Their responsibilities and job duties entail a great deal of multitasking and cross training.
Nurse practitioners are the frontline taskforce of an effective medical staff. Patient care, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and care management are all factions of this professional realm.
The most vital role of a nurse practitioner is the teaching component to his or her profession. This position was developed in the mid sixties as a solution to a shortage in nursing care professionals. The role of practitioner elevated the position of nurse from support medical staff to stabilizing medical staff.
These nurses are able to assist doctors with prescription writing powers, assessment and evaluation capabilities, and managing whole cases with little supervision. Additionally, the NP serves in a teaching capacity to train nurses most efficiently for more diversified staffing positions and hospital coverage.
Nurse practitioners are nurses who have advanced degrees and training in their field. Master of nursing science and doctorate degrees are available in countless degree program options. Supplemental credentials may be required by varying state to state mandates, but are most often transferable.
The extensive training required to advance to this level of the nursing profession can seem daunting. It is important to remember that the schooling takes place incrementally, throughout clinical practice. This enables the nurse professional to take on classes and teaching responsibilities within the parameters of their established careers.
Nursing practitioners are innovators in their chosen field of medicine. Family practitioners are in growing demand, even during one of the worst economic cycles of our national history. Nurses and medical professionals of this caliber are desperately needed by their colleagues to meet the growing demands of their patients. As health insurance becomes sparse, family practice clinics to address the needs of the uninsured remain on the rise.
Consider a challenging and rewarding career as a nurse practitioner to advance your professional goals. The salary expectations for this profession are extremely lucrative, and the benefits are unmatched by other fields. Medical professionals are essential to our entire health care system. Medical professionals with advanced training and teaching capabilities are invaluable.