If you’re a nurse who already has your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you have a number of opportunities available to you to gain even more clinical skills through South University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.
The Family Nurse Practitioner specialization allows you to complete practicums in adults & gerontology, women’s health, pediatrics, and primary care. Another option, the Adult Health Nurse Practitioner specialization, offers practicums in adults & gerontology, women’s health, and primary care.
While developing the skills and knowledge to effectively treat patients in the clinical sense is essential in all of these areas, you should not overlook the importance of more whole holistic healthcare essentials, like bedside manner. Nurse Practitioners have the opportunity to greatly impact a patient’s experience in a variety of medical settings, so it’s important to keep a few key points in mind.
- Speak the Patient’s Language – More than likely, your patients won’t be familiar with the medical jargon you use on a daily basis, so it’s essential to be able to explain their prescribed treatment in a way that they will understand.
- Use Compassion - This is particularly important when dealing with patients that have serious illnesses, but should be used regardless of the situation. Having compassion for your patients will help you to put their minds at ease under difficult circumstances.
- Make the Patient Feel Important – In the fast-paced world in which we live today, it seems like medical professionals are spending increasingly less time with their patients, sometimes resulting in them feeling neglected. They may even be hesitant to ask any questions they have for fear that they’re interrupting your busy schedule. You can help combat this by making each patient feel like they’re the most important patient you have. Even if you’re feeling stressed or rushed, you need to make sure your patients never pick up on this.
The role of the Nurse Practitioner is an important one in both Family and Adult Health situations. Whether a patient is 9 weeks or 90 years old, it’s important to treat them with respect and make them feel at ease.
