What types of issues are included in the professional practice of FNPs?

The professional practice of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) encompasses a wide range of responsibilities and issues, with ethical decision-making and healthcare policy being fundamental components. FNPs often encounter complex ethical dilemmas in patient care, requiring them to apply ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice when making clinical decisions. Understanding healthcare policies also plays a crucial role in their practice, as it impacts the delivery of care, reimbursement, and patient advocacy. FNPs must stay informed about legislation that affects their practice and be prepared to advocate for changes that promote better healthcare outcomes.

Including participation in public health initiatives is a valid aspect of FNP practice, but it specifically addresses only one part of the broader scope of professional practice. Recreational therapy practices, while beneficial in certain healthcare contexts, do not fall primarily under the purview of FNPs. Therefore, the emphasis on ethical decision-making and healthcare policy represents a core responsibility of FNPs in ensuring effective, equitable, and ethical patient care.