Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in providing care to different age groups. When it comes to providing care to teenagers, family nurse practitioners play a major role. Adolescence is the stage where individuals transition from childhood to adulthood. This stage of growth is when individuals can lay the foundations of good health and figure out their identity. For FNPs, providing care to teenage patients comes with unique challenges that require well-thought-out strategies. Addressing the challenges FNPs face in providing care to teens helps prevent health risks and establish positive health behaviors that extend into adulthood.
Three major challenges FNPs face when providing care to teenagers
Adolescence is a period filled with uncertainties. By understanding and addressing the challenges teens face, FNPs can provide tailored healthcare tips and interventions that improve teenage patients’ health outcomes. The following are challenges family nurse practitioners face when caring for teenagers:
Physical and hormonal changes
The significant physical and hormonal changes occurring during adolescence pose a challenge for FNPs. For instance, girls may witness the development of breasts, while boys might notice the growth of facial hair. When undergoing these life changes, teenagers tend to be more irritable, act up and refuse care, or develop bad habits. During this period, FNPs need to understand and be able to differentiate between normal changes and any deviations that may require further evaluation and intervention. They must do this while considering the unique circumstances and challenges each teenager faces.
Privacy
Adolescents often have concerns about their privacy and act more mistrustful and secretive. During this growth stage, individuals tend to hesitate to disclose information they deem sensitive. Yet FNPs must find a way to get across to their patients and get them to disclose sensitive information while following legal and ethical confidentiality guidelines.
Also, some instances require or legally mandate involving the teen’s parents. Balancing the teens’ right to privacy and involving the parents in the situation can be difficult. As a family nurse practitioner, you sometimes need to seek parental involvement while respecting the teens’ autonomy and trust.
Substance abuse
As we said earlier, adolescence is a period in which most individuals figure out their identity. During the teenage years, individuals tend to explore a lot, including experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It’s like they have stumbled upon a power-up that boosts their confidence and promises fun, but this can be harmful to their health. Some experiment with drugs and alcohol out of curiosity or peer pressure. FNPs need to monitor their teen patients, be able to identify early symptoms of substance abuse, and provide adequate intervention.
Spotting early symptoms of substance abuse is challenging, as teens can be very sneaky and secretive. So, it’s up to FNPs to create a safe space where they feel comfortable opening up about their struggles. Teenagers often don’t fully grasp the consequences of substance abuse. It is the role of the FNP to help them understand its risks and disadvantages.
Strategies FNPs caring for teenagers can implement when facing challenges
Providing care for teenagers can be a rewarding yet complex journey. Adolescence is a whirlwind of changes, and as an FNP, you have to be at the forefront of these changes and teach these teens how to maintain their overall well-being. From tackling sensitive topics like substance abuse to building trust, it can get a bit tricky. Here are effective solutions and strategies you can implement to overcome the unique challenges that come with caring for teenage patients.
Build trust
Fostering trust with teenage patients is a key initial priority as an FNP. Take the time to truly understand your teenage patients. Listen and engage with them, be involved in their lives, and establish professional boundaries while forming a connection. Provide a secure environment for open discussions, making sure they feel unbiased and supported. Doing this will make it easier to track their adolescent progress, provide adequate care, and guide them toward fulfilling lives.
Get specialized training and education
Enrolling in advanced programs like a master of science in nursing (MSN) helps FNPs develop the skills and knowledge essential for working with teenagers. Carson-Newman University offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers essential aspects of caring for different age groups.
Carson-Newman FNP programs provide in-depth training in areas such as adolescent development and preventive care. The program also offers clinical placements. Through supervised rotations, you can gain practical experience as an FNP managing the healthcare needs of teens. This well-rounded education equips you with the knowledge you need to deliver effective care to teens.
Educate teenage patients and parents about privacy laws
From the onset, FNPs should be honest and transparent with teens and their parents or legal guardians regarding privacy. To resolve challenges regarding privacy, have an open discussion informing the teens and their legal guidance of the importance of confidentiality in healthcare and its legal consequences.
Make it clear to the teen that certain situations may arise that necessitate you divulging information, but in all cases, you will respect their privacy. To help them really grasp how privacy laws work in practice, it can be helpful to provide relatable examples and scenarios. By educating both the teenagers and their parents about privacy laws and ensuring everyone knows their rights and responsibilities, you can establish trust, ensure clear communication, and create a strong support system.
Final Thoughts
It is important to address the challenges family nurse practitioners face when providing care. Common challenges FNPs face when caring for teenagers include trust and communication issues, substance abuse, sensitivity, and privacy. Family nurse practitioners need to try different approaches to resolve these challenges effectively. Some of these include building trust and educating the patient and their legal guardian on privacy laws. When you follow these approaches as a family nurse practitioner, you will be able to provide comprehensive care to teenage patients.
