Can a Family Nurse Practitioner Work in Pediatrics

marzo 06, 2022 Publicar un comentario

A smiling nurse practitioner. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked nurse practitioner equally the third-best task in the United States. Aspiring nurse practitioners can consider a number of specialties, including family nurse practitioner (FNP) and pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP).

Both specialties provide professionals with the opportunity to provide patients with quality care. When considering the roles of FNP vs. PNP, registered nurses should understand that while the ii career paths crave an advanced degree in nursing, many distinctions set them apart.

What Does an FNP Practise?

A family nurse practitioner tin can treat a broad range of patients, from infants to seniors, which allows them to provide intendance throughout a person'south lifetime. In many cases, FNPs care for entire families. These professionals can develop long-term medical relationships with patients since they are qualified to care for them at unlike stages of their lives.

Role of an FNP's role is to educate patients and their families nigh preventive intendance. For example, they may determine that obesity could be an issue within a family unit unit. They tin then piece of work with the family to develop health strategies, such equally better eating habits and more exercise.

FNPs tin earn further certification in specific areas, such as babyhood obesity or diabetes. Certification provides them with the expertise to develop effective preventive care strategies. They as well care for astute illnesses, such as the flu or breast congestion.

For patients with chronic illnesses — seniors with arthritis, for case — FNPs can offer pain direction strategies or refer them to specialists. In some states, FNPs are certified to prescribe medications without physician oversight, while in other states, they collaborate closely with physicians to develop medication plans for patients.

What Does a PNP Do?

Pediatric nurse practitioners provide specialized care for infants, children, teenagers and young adults. They see patients in a variety of settings and oft offer primary intendance in areas that lack physicians.

Those who specialize in pediatrics can expect to treat a wide array of acute and chronic illnesses that bear upon children, including colds, the flu, asthma and small injuries. PNPs monitor and develop strategies to assistance young patients manage their chronic illnesses, such equally diabetes, cancer or cystic fibrosis.

PNPs develop childhood wellness strategies to aid families in combating preventable medical weather condition, such as childhood obesity. These professionals can too piece of work with school districts to develop districtwide health initiatives. Though PNPs provide wellness care to younger patients, they work closely with parents and caregivers to give their young patients quality care.

Similarities Betwixt FNPs and PNPs

The roles of FNP vs. PNP overlap to some extent in job responsibilities, educational requirements and key skills.

Task Responsibilities

Both specialties provide patients with optimal care. For example, FNPs and PNPs offering medical care to infants, children, teenagers and young adults, although PNPs may have more than in-depth knowledge of pediatrics.

FNPs and PNPs develop various strategies to treat acute illnesses and manage chronic diseases. They can prescribe medication to patients without oversight from a doctor in 22 states, while the other 28 states require physician approval. They ofttimes act as intermediaries betwixt patients and physicians. In some cases, they may serve equally patient advocates to help patients acquire specialized care.

Educational Requirements

The first step toward a career as an FNP or PNP is earning a Available of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduation, prospective nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN examination proctored by the National Council of Land Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to become licensed registered nurses (RNs).

Those interested in advanced nursing careers, such as nurse practitioner, must pursue a Chief of Scientific discipline in Nursing (MSN) from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Many graduate programs require nurses to have at least a year of feel working equally an RN. Nurses aspiring to become an FNP or PNP should offset consider working as an RN in pediatrics or family care.

Skill Set

FNPs and PNPs rely on mutual cadre skills, spanning the areas of assay, communication, leadership and technology.

Assay: FNPs and PNPs use their analytical skills to develop strategies and treatment plans to address their patients' health concerns. They monitor patients' responses and appraise treatment plans to determine whether they are effective.
Communication: Strong communication skills are crucial when working on cross-functional teams with physicians and other health care professionals, explaining treatment plans, and listening to patients' symptoms and concerns.
Leadership: Both specialties crave leadership skills to help them make informed medical decisions that positively impact their patients' wellness care goals. They must take the initiative to provide their patients, families and caregivers with the guidance to manage and treat various illnesses.
Engineering science: FNPs and PNPs must monitor the latest technological trends affecting their field, including electronic health records (EHRs) and telehealth.

Differences Between FNPs and PNPs

The pct of all nurse practitioners who make up one's mind to become certified FNPs is about 65%, co-ordinate to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. By contrast, PNPs make up just 4% of NPs. The distinctions between an FNP and a PNP, despite the similarities, tin can affect an individual's inclination toward either career.

Job Responsibilities

Looking at the responsibilities of FNPs vs. PNPs reveals a key difference: their patient populations. FNPs provide care to patients throughout their lifetimes, while PNPs provide care for patients from infancy to young adulthood.

PNPs offer a focused assessment of their patients' development through the diverse stages of babyhood. They have a deep understanding of the many chronic and acute illnesses that affect children. Moreover, they work with parents and caregivers to ensure that their young patients develop into good for you adults by addressing health concerns such as childhood obesity or diabetes.

In contrast, FNPs possess primary care expertise that allows them to care for patients of all ages. Though they often care for immature patients, FNPs manage a wide scope of acute and chronic illnesses that impact patients at various stages of life. On whatever given day, they may work with a parent to develop a treatment program for a child so treat an elderly patient for a chronic eye condition.

Certification

Subsequently earning an advanced degree in nursing from an accredited university, prospective FNPs and PNPs can take a certification test. Aspiring FNPs must pass an test proctored by either the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

In comparing, future PNPs must pass the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner examination for either primary or acute intendance (CPNP-PC or CPNP-Air conditioning) through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). PNPs who specialize in acute intendance accept an avant-garde knowledge of caring for patients with acute or chronic illnesses. In contrast, primary intendance PNPs focus on small-scale illnesses, preventive care and developing long-term wellness care strategies.

Subsequently passing the relevant exam, FNPs and PNPs can piece of work in their specialty. Every 5 years, FNPs must complete the recertification process, which requires 100 continuing education hours and 1,000 hours of clinical piece of work inside that period, co-ordinate to the AANP. PNPs must recertify every year and consummate 15 hours of continuing education annually. The PCNB besides requires PNPs to accept iv canonical PNCB modules within a seven-year catamenia.

Work Surroundings and Salary

FNPs tin can piece of work in hospitals, schools, public clinics or their ain practices. PNPs work in similar settings, with the addition of pediatrician offices and pediatric intensive care units. In some cases, FNPs and PNPs may work in the aforementioned facility simply in different units.

In 2019, the median annual bacon for nurse practitioners was $109,820, according to the U.S. Agency of Labor Statistics (BLS). Both FNPs and PNPs can expect to control higher salaries after earning experience in the field.

Explore an Heady Career as an FNP or PNP

Nurses interested in advancing their careers should consider the many benefits of earning a graduate caste. Accredited by the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Teaching, the University of Due north Dakota'south Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program allows students to choose a specialized area of concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Wellness Nurse Practitioner. Regardless of concentration, all students take a core set of courses to prepare for certification exams, such as Theories and Concepts in Nursing; Avant-garde Pharmacology; Ethical, Legal and Health Policy Bug; and an contained report projection.

Learn more about how the Academy of North Dakota'south online MSN tin help you proceeds the cognition base, education and skill set to pave the way to an advanced career equally a nurse practitioner.

Recommended Readings

AGNP vs. FNP: Comparing Ii Essential Nursing Roles

Exploring the Types of Nursing Specialties and Salaries of Nurse Practitioners

How to Go a Director of Nursing

Sources:

American University of Nurse Practitioners, Renewal Requirements

American Association of Nurse Practitioners, "Are Y'all Considering a Career as a Family Nurse Practitioner?"

American Association of Nurse Practitioners, "Are You Considering a Career every bit a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?"

American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NP Fact Sheet

News Medical Life Sciences, "Nursing Specializations"

PayScale, Average Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary

PayScale, Average Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care (CPNP-Ac)

Pediatric Nursing Certification Lath, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Principal Care (CPNP-PC)

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Acute Care Recertification

Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Primary Care Recertification

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

Thompson Whory1960