Faith's FNP Site

WHAT IS AN FNP? (Family Nurse Practitioner)

A Family Nurse Practitioner is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who has specialized in Family Medicine. Most FNPs work in Primary Care, seeing patients of all ages, in much the same role as the traditional ‘family doctor.’

What Are NPs Qualified to Do?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has received advanced, specialized education in diagnosing and treating illnesses and providing health care maintenance. Some specialize in Women’s Health, others in Pediatrics, and a growing number can be found in Acute Care settings, in areas from orthopedic surgery to intensive care. Many are family nurse practitioners, practicing in rural or urban clinics, health centers, or private practices. Some other specialties include:

• Palliative Care/hospice
• counseling
• preventative medicine
• Eating Disorders
• geriatric/elder health
• Neonatal ICU
• psychiatric/mental health
• school/college health
• obstetric-gynecologic health

Where Do NPs Work?

NPs work in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and throughout Canada. You can find them in diverse health care settings. Some work independently in their own health care offices or in collaboration with physicians; others are employed, or contracted, by clinics, hospitals, out-patient facilities, nursing homes, hospices, schools and universities, corporate offices, correctional facilities, and home health care agencies.

What Are NPs Qualified to Do?

To be nationally certified as a Nurse Practitioner, an earned graduate degree in advanced practice nursing is required, as well as extensive clinical hours practicing under an experienced NP or MD. As health care providers, NPs are educated and qualified to:

• obtain health histories and perform physical exams
• diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries
• recognize complicated medical conditions that require referral
• manage chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
• order and interpret diagnostic tests, including lab tests and x-rays
• prescribe medications and other treatments
• give advice on how to prevent disease
• give vaccinations
• refer to community resources and agencies

Why Choose an NP?

NPs take time to listen to your health concerns. NPs tend to practice more holistically, and will invest time in assessing how your lifestyle affects your health. NPs work with their patients to prevent illness and promote healthy lifestyle choices. They concentrate on early detection of illness and emphasize disease prevention by providing education and health counseling for patients.