The role of nurse practitioners has exponentially evolved over the decades. NPs have now become a crucial part of the constant change, however subtle, in patients’ decisions about who should provide their primary health care. This is, in large part, due to the capability and versatility of nurse practitioners to meet diverse and ever-increasing patient needs.
More and more patients—especially women— are now becoming increasingly cognizant of and reliant on the capabilities of nurse practitioners to render safe, patient-centered, timely, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
If you have heard about nurse practitioners but are still not quite sure how they can help women better manage their health, here are things NPs want you to know.
o Nurse practitioners are proponents of preventative health care for women of all ages.
Through their strong educational foundation, nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to advocate and implement health maintenance and preventive care for women.
NPs are trained to provide routine wellness services—which include, but are not limited to, assessment of physical and psychosocial function, gynecological exam, health counseling, immunizations, and risk factor assessment—for women from adolescence, through childbearing age, to advanced age. Through these services, nurse practitioners determine and work to mitigate risks way before the signs and symptoms of a medical condition manifest.
Moreover, the supportive guidance that NPs provide women greatly empowers them to make choices that lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.
o Nurse practitioners are key providers of women’s sexual and reproductive health care.
Sexual and reproductive health care is central to ensuring the overall health and well-being of women as well as their ability to make major life decisions, such as whether or when to have children.
Nurse practitioners work with women to both address and prevent gynecological illnesses (e.g., breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, etc.) and sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., HPV, HIV, etc.).
For women who are trying to get pregnant and ensure their preconception health, nurse practitioners assess their current health profile and evaluate their medications, lifestyle, and nutrition to make sure they are fit for pregnancy. For women who are not ready or no longer want to have children, NPs counsel them regarding the various methods of contraception (e.g., pills, shots, IUDs, etc.), and help them make well-informed decisions.
Women’s Health Care in Kent, Washington
At FamilyCare of Kent, our board-certified family nurse practitioners have established a reputation of excellence spanning over thirty years for consistently providing comprehensive healthcare services of unmatched quality. Our women’s health care services are a reflection of our unwavering commitment to helping the female residents of Kent and its neighboring communities live healthier, happier, and longer lives.
Call our staff today at (253) 859-2273 (CARE) to schedule an appointment with one of our nurse practitioners. You may also fill out our convenient online request form, and we will get in touch with you promptly.