Family nurse practitioners: perceived competencies and recommendations

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are crucial in primary care settings.
• Understanding the scope of practice and perceived competence of FNPs is essential for healthcare system planning.
• Identifying common health problems managed by FNPs informs curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the frequency of various health problem categories encountered by FNPs in the United States.
• To assess the self-perceived competence of FNPs in managing patient needs without referral.
• To inform discussions on the optimal placement of FNP competency training within nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A mail questionnaire was distributed to 327 FNPs across the United States.
• Data collected included the frequency of encountered health problem categories and self-estimated ability to manage patient needs.
• Statistical analysis was performed on the returned questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The most frequently encountered health problems were cardiovascular and respiratory, followed by neurologic/musculoskeletal issues.
• FNPs reported a mean self-estimated competence of 66% in handling patient needs without further referral or consultation.
• A wide range of health issues were managed by FNPs, spanning multiple specialties.

Conclusions:

• FNPs manage a broad spectrum of health conditions, with a high prevalence of chronic and acute cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
• The self-reported moderate competence (66%) suggests potential areas for enhanced training and support.
• Findings underscore the need to evaluate and potentially revise nursing education curricula to better equip FNPs for their practice demands.