Without question, intensive clinical and didactic training is necessary in nursing as nurses have responsibility for the lives and well-being of patients under their care. I have been a nurse for almost 4 years and know firsthand, the importance and benefits of a well-rounded training program. Growing up, especially in my teenage years, I was fascinated by the inherent compassion and skill in the nursing profession. During my visits to the hospital or other healthcare facilities, I was always impressed by the efficiency and confidence I saw displayed by nurses as they cared for diverse patients. A thought that struck me constantly was that if I had the requisite knowledge, I too could care for people with the same confidence. Going through my initial training as an RN, that philosophy motivated complete immersion in my studies. I knew that it was absolutely essential that I absorbed every bit of knowledge through my coursework as it was essential to both successful professional practice and patient safety. In my work today, I find that that dedication has paid off in terms of how efficient I am. At the same time, I continue to see every case as a learning opportunity as well as learn constantly from my colleagues and superiors. I also hold to the same philosophy in my decision to advance in my career to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse and expert health care provider with advanced education and clinical training. Nurse Practitioners focus on health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic disease, as well as health maintenance (Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow (NHT) (2017). In order to fulfil these responsibilities, Nurse Practitioners carry out many services including taking patient histories, performing physical examinations, diagnoses and treatment of common acute illnesses or injuries, providing immunizations, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, and counseling patients. Nurse Practitioners may also work as educators, research scientists, as well as participate in legislative activities and health care policy activities (NHT, 2017).
Family Nurse practitioners (FNP) specifically work to deliver family-focused care either autonomously or in collaboration with other professionals, offering a range of services including health promotion, disease prevention, direct care, and counseling, all through the lifespan (GraduateNursingEDU.org, 2017). Evidently, such activities and complex roles would require advanced training and education, including extended clinical immersion, in order to produce advanced skills necessary for the Nurse Practitioner to be able to correctly evaluate and analyze patient experiences, health conditions, and research, and to translate these factors into effective clinical action.
As a student, my priority is to make sure I attend the requisite classes to gain the knowledge necessary to gain my credentials successfully and to gain the knowledge required for professional practice. I am strongly committed to working towards becoming an FNP. As a result, I am committed to abiding by the requirements of the FNP training program including meeting the clinical and didactic hours of training. My work schedule and other engagements will be adjusted or arranged such that there will be no conflicts. To this end, I already have the necessary support from my family and work relationships. I also plan to develop a structured schedule and work plan that incorporates my clinic hours and didactic training hours to facilitate effective time management. To be able to gain advanced training and certification as Family Nurse Practitioner would be a great honor as it will provide me with a platform to serve families and communities and contribute to their health and well-being. I sincerely and humbly look forward to that privilege.
- GraduateNursingEDU.org (2017). Family Nurse practitioners (FNP). http://www.graduatenursingedu.org/family-nurse-practitioner/
- Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow (NHT) (2017). Nurse Practitioner. http://www.nursesource.org/practioner.html
