Braden over at 20 out of 10 has requested that I submit a post about what a nurse practitioner does on a daily basis. I will attempt to break down my average day, but keep in mind the location that I am working in is a new branch of a Federally Qualified Health Clinic that is just starting over the last 6 months, so it isn't a typical regimen for a fully loaded practice.
08:15- Come into office. Check phone and desk for messages. Check the labs that came across from the day before, and write out instructions on lab letters to be sent back to the patients. Draw labs on patients that my nurse can't "hit".
08:30- First patient of the day. (new pt visit 30-45 minutes) Complete history, including medical, surgical, and family history. Head to toe review of systems. Head to toe physical exam. Address any new symptoms or chronic symptoms. Refill or write any prescriptions needed. Educate about all disease processes and about what each prescription is for. Review if any preventative care has been completed such as mammogram, Pap, colonoscopy, bone density, etc. Request record release so that I can obtain prior records to review. Ask is there is anything else that they wanted to ask me. Explain our "open access scheduling (same day) to set up follow up. Off they go!
09:15- Back to the desk to do paperwork, write referrals, review records, check messages, call back pts to answer questions.
09:30-Next visit (established 15 minutes)- Medication review, ask if any changes in ROS since last visit. Address new problem or review established problems. Review any test results since last visit. Reinforce education about disease processes.
09:45- See 09:15 slot.. This process happens throughout the morning until 12:00 when we break for lunch. I usually eat in 30 minutes (left over from the hospital days- eat fast whatever is available). Use the rest of the lunch break to do any of the never ending paperwork.. I REALLY HATE THIS PART!
From 1:00-4:15 see patients throughout day varying from pediatrics to geriatrics. I also see minor emergencies such as I&D, suturing, stapling etc. Refer to Emergency Department any cases needing such expertise (You're up all you emergency room nurses! Keep my patients safe and healthy!) We often get cases as a walk in basis that are serious because patients wait too long before being seen. That's a story for the next edition..
04:15-05:00- Email or call my collaborating MD to discuss any difficult cases dealt with during the day. Return other physician phone calls if arise. Read through consultation notes received. Discuss the cases encountered during day with my nurse to encourage her to expand her knowledge base as well as pick her brain when needed.
That's pretty much a day in the life of a Family Nurse Practitioner. I love my job and really enjoy building relationships with my patients and watching them respond to the treatments I recommend. I am taking care of entire families now and that's what it's all about!
08:15- Come into office. Check phone and desk for messages. Check the labs that came across from the day before, and write out instructions on lab letters to be sent back to the patients. Draw labs on patients that my nurse can't "hit".
08:30- First patient of the day. (new pt visit 30-45 minutes) Complete history, including medical, surgical, and family history. Head to toe review of systems. Head to toe physical exam. Address any new symptoms or chronic symptoms. Refill or write any prescriptions needed. Educate about all disease processes and about what each prescription is for. Review if any preventative care has been completed such as mammogram, Pap, colonoscopy, bone density, etc. Request record release so that I can obtain prior records to review. Ask is there is anything else that they wanted to ask me. Explain our "open access scheduling (same day) to set up follow up. Off they go!
09:15- Back to the desk to do paperwork, write referrals, review records, check messages, call back pts to answer questions.
09:30-Next visit (established 15 minutes)- Medication review, ask if any changes in ROS since last visit. Address new problem or review established problems. Review any test results since last visit. Reinforce education about disease processes.
09:45- See 09:15 slot.. This process happens throughout the morning until 12:00 when we break for lunch. I usually eat in 30 minutes (left over from the hospital days- eat fast whatever is available). Use the rest of the lunch break to do any of the never ending paperwork.. I REALLY HATE THIS PART!
From 1:00-4:15 see patients throughout day varying from pediatrics to geriatrics. I also see minor emergencies such as I&D, suturing, stapling etc. Refer to Emergency Department any cases needing such expertise (You're up all you emergency room nurses! Keep my patients safe and healthy!) We often get cases as a walk in basis that are serious because patients wait too long before being seen. That's a story for the next edition..
04:15-05:00- Email or call my collaborating MD to discuss any difficult cases dealt with during the day. Return other physician phone calls if arise. Read through consultation notes received. Discuss the cases encountered during day with my nurse to encourage her to expand her knowledge base as well as pick her brain when needed.
That's pretty much a day in the life of a Family Nurse Practitioner. I love my job and really enjoy building relationships with my patients and watching them respond to the treatments I recommend. I am taking care of entire families now and that's what it's all about!
thank you very much.
I had to do a project on this job, and you really saved me with this.
thank you for sharing about your day! I'm looking forward to starting an FNP program this fall =)
Thank you for taking the time to share. I have been contemplating going back to school for a while now but don't really now what the job would be like once I got there. Thanks for helping seperate the fantasy from reality.
J
Anonymous 1, Glad to be of help. Hope you did well on your assignment.
Anonymous 2, I'm glad that you are starting your program in the Fall! I hope that you have a great program to attend and learn a lot.
J, It's important to talk to as many real nurse practitioners that you can so that you will avoid misunderstandings as a new hire.
Hi, Thanks for this post! It's good to hear a health care professional say that caring for families is what its all about!
I would like your insight:
I am 25, have recently completed a Master of Social Work degree (also hold a BSW) but strongly interested in pursuing a career in nursing after working in two medical settings as a social work intern and finding that I crave more direct patient contact. I am also passionate about health education & prevention. I am just not sure which route would be the best way into nursing. In my state I have the following options:
--entry level MSN (become an RN in the first year, 2nd yr study focus on clinical nurse leadership)
--Accelerated 15 month BSN (plus about 2-3 semesters of pre-reqs)
--Second degree BSN (pre-req+nursing courses,3 years)
--2 year Associate's Degree in Nursing Program
--A nearby university in another state, Vanderbilt offers an entry level MSN NP program (3 yrs with pre-reqs).
Which program would you choose if you were in my situation. . .btw I am a single mother of a 7 year and need to start working ASAP--but not at the expense of sacrificing a quality education.
Anonymous, it depends on what type of nursing you are looking to become involved with. If you are looking to diagnose and treat patients, the NP route. If you want to work in a hospital setting or office setting in a fast time frame, do the RN route only and then go back to school later if you decide that you want to further your degree. The entry level MSN that focuses on clinical leadership means management areas usually I think.. Hope you figure it out and welcome to the nursing field when you finish!