What strategies do FNPs use to assist in treating mental health conditions?
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) play a vital role in healthcare. In accordance with jurisdictional guidelines, they participate in diagnosing patients, prescribing treatment, and monitoring patient health over time. They also partner with other healthcare providers to ensure that their patients get the best healthcare possible and as appropriate to their health conditions.
As primary care providers, FNPs have an equally pivotal role to play in mental health care, from screening to diagnosing, treatment and management. Although they are not exclusively mental health care providers, treating mental health conditions is well within the scope of their practice, and there are certain strategies that FNPs utilize to achieve this.
Screening for mental health conditions
As the first contact with patients, FNPs are often in a vantage position to screen patients for possible mental health disorders. Screening methods could include utilizing questionnaires and identifying risk factors, pointers, and root causes of various mental conditions. FNPs may also order for more immersive tests that can provide a clearer insight into the patient’s situation.
FNPs usually begin screening for mental health conditions because they suspect the liability of their patient to one, or because current complaints are pointing to one. While they diagnose and screen for other non-metal health conditions, they also conduct routine checks on their patients’ moods, feelings, and recent life occurrences that may have been challenging.
Prescribing medication for non-complex mental health disorders
In accordance with jurisdictional provisions, specialization, and scope of practice of the FNP, they may be able to prescribe medication for diagnosed mental health problems. For the very common and basic mental health disorders, FNPs can prescribe medications such as antidepressants for the treatment of depression, anxiety and ADHD medications, and so on.
However, in prescribing medication, FNPs must fully understand their scope of practice (SOP) and stay aware of state legislative rules, which are subject to periodic change. It is highly essential that nurses stay aligned with these guidelines and promote only best practices.
Collaborating with mental health care providers
FNPs can screen for, diagnose, and prescribe medication for uncomplicated mental health conditions. However, they are not trained psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counselors or rehabilitationists. Therefore, collaboration is an integral part of their role in the treatment of mental health conditions. The FNP must not hesitate to refer patients with complex conditions for appropriate care.
To achieve this, FNPs develop a robust network and maintain healthy contact with other healthcare providers in several areas, including mental health. Because there are so many specializations in mental health, with quite a number of healthcare providers available to attend to specific mental health issues, the FNP must be able to make the right referrals. At the same time, they must be willing to work hand in hand with the newly involved personnel and must readily update them with information that will prove useful in rightly diagnosing and treating the patient.
Preventative mental health care
In addition to diagnosing and treating non-complex mental health conditions, the family nurse practitioner role in mental health also includes helping their patients prevent mental health conditions from occurring. In the same way that the FNP can recommend a certain dietary or workout lifestyle to mitigate the risk of contracting common diseases, they can also provide recommendations for ensuring a healthy mental health state.
FNPs can also look out for triggers and pointers to possible mental health conditions, such as hereditary traits, challenges such as the loss of a loved one, or the contraction of a terminal disease. Upon identifying such triggers and pointers, they may help their patients create a plan for engaging in beneficial activities, receiving therapy and reducing mental stress.
What mental illnesses can FNPs diagnose and treat?
As FNPs are often the first healthcare providers in contact with patients, they are equipped to recognize, screen for, and treat simple mental health issues. They must, however, always refer their patients for complex mental health conditions or for conditions where the diagnosis is still quite vague.
Some of the mental illnesses that FNPs can diagnose and treat are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders
- Eating disorders
- Addictive behaviors
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Mood disorders
Conclusion
Because FNPs are the initial healthcare point of contact for many, they are likely the first to recognize their patient’s need for adequate mental health care. While they may not be fully equipped to perform intensive mental health care, FNPs have working strategies for encouraging holistic wellness in their patients and supporting the mental health of the patients they are caring for.
