When you get sick, most people’s first thought might be to call a doctor. But doctors aren’t the only medical professionals out there; if you’re looking for healthcare that’s holistic and takes your whole life into account, consider seeing a nurse practitioner (NP). These skilled medical professionals offer the same, if not better, standard of care as a regular physician.
Read on to know more about nurse practitioners and learn about their tips for a healthier life!
How Do Nurse Practitioners and Doctors Differ?
Although nurses and physicians have the same goal of restoring good health, they follow different models of care. Physicians train under the conventional medical model, which looks at illness on a pathophysiological level. Training under this model means that they view sickness as a result of abnormalities in body functions. Furthermore, their focus is almost exclusively on the problem at hand.
Conversely, nurse practitioners follow a more holistic model, approaching health and wellness through the lens of a whole person. They take into account the physical aspects of a person and the emotional, cultural, environmental, and spiritual factors that affect a person’s health.
In particular, nurse practitioners focus on preventive health, paying close attention to how you can ward off disease and stay healthy at every stage of life. Here are our three best tips on how to achieve optimal health and wellness:
Healthy Tips From A Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
1. Get Checked Annually
Most of us tend to put off visiting a clinic or hospital until we get sick. Nurse practitioners encourage you to go for checkups even when you’re in good health. We recommend that you make time for wellness exams and physicals once a year.
During your checkup, you can raise any health concerns you have noticed. Your nurse practitioner will check for any signs of disease and administer necessary tests to ensure you’re in top shape. They will also check whether you’re up-to-date on your flu shots and other vaccinations.
You can also tell your nurse practitioner your health objectives for the next 12 months. They will give you advice specific to your needs and goals.
In addition to general health checkups, women should remember to take special well-woman visits annually. It’s essential to get screened for diseases specific to women, as they might get missed in a regular checkup.
2. Focus On Prevention
It’s much easier to prevent disease than to treat it. There’s a lot of information available online on how to lessen your risk of getting ill. But everyone’s situation is unique, so how are you sure that you’re doing what’s right for you?
Prevention is one area where the holistic model of nurse practitioners excels. Nurse practitioners can spot factors in their environment and lifestyle that could cause diseases because we look at a patient as a whole. This philosophy puts nurse practitioners in a unique position to provide you with tips tailored to you specifically.
Nurse practitioners will walk you through things you can do at home because we believe in a more well-rounded health care model rather than focusing on treating diseases.
3. Take Greater Control Of Your Health
Any advice offered by a healthcare professional is only as effective as your commitment to implement it. You have to take an active role in your health and well-being. With the help of your nurse practitioner, you can take charge of your wellness. The duties and goals of a nurse practitioner are to support and guide you to achieve good health, not control and direct you.
Nurse practitioners empower you by equipping you with the knowledge and skills you need to make intelligent health choices. If you have a chronic disease, they may teach you how to recognize warning signs and what to do in case of emergencies. They will also direct you to reliable resources so you can further educate yourself.
Taking greater control of your health means that we recommend that you also take an active role in keeping yourself healthy. This might include lifestyle improvements or changes, such as exercise plans designed around you and your schedule or diets tailored to your unique needs.
Patient-Centered Care In Kent, Washington
Nurse practitioners and doctors operate using different philosophies: doctors focus primarily on a patient’s illness, while nurses pay extra attention to a patient as a whole. This difference may be the reason behind nurse practitioners’ outstanding patient satisfaction records all over the country. If you’re looking for competent, personalized health care, call a nurse practitioner today!
Here at FamilyCare of Kent, we provide nothing but the best in health. Our expert team of nurse practitioners will take the time to listen to your problems and work with you to design a holistic and customized treatment plan. We take pride in treating our patients with the same level of compassion we give our loved ones. We are top of mind when it comes to primary care, and our high approval ratings reflect our patient’s trust in us.