How Family Nurse Practitioners Help Heal Sports Injuries

If you’re a nurse who would like to combine your dedication to patient care with your love of sports, then know that there is a career path available to fulfill this goal. The role of family nurse practitioner (FNP) can embrace both of these areas. It’s a versatile job as it involves treating a wide cross-section of the community and dealing with many different types of illnesses and injuries, including sports injuries. This makes it perfect for any nurse wishing to focus on these types of injuries.

Below, we discuss how FNPs treat sports injuries. We’ll also review how you can train to become an FNP by adding to your existing skills and opening up a whole world of career options.

Family nurse practitioners are highly educated nurses who offer a broad scope of care, in many cases working autonomously and independently. They care for patients of all ages, performing many of the tasks that would traditionally only be carried out by doctors, including diagnosing patients, devising treatment plans and prescribing medication.

FNPs work primarily in primary or non-emergency care in a wide variety of settings, which include doctors’ offices, private clinics, community centers, outpatient care centers, school and university health centers and sports injury clinics. This is a varied and rewarding role, which is currently very much in demand as the health needs of the population grow and evolve. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the role of nurse practitioner is set to grow at a rate of 45% over the decade from 2022 to 2032, making it one of the fastest-growing professions in the country.

Thanks to their thorough education and training, FNPs are well-equipped to assist with sports injuries. These types of injuries are commonplace and mainly affect the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. Some of the most common sports injuries include Achilles tendon ruptures, sprained ankles, tennis elbows, knee injuries, including meniscus tears, head injuries, such as concussions, and shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears. An FNP’s skills and training allow them to successfully diagnose and treat these types of injuries and prescribe appropriate treatment and medication.

Let’s look at the activities, and FNP performs to assist with sports injuries:

An FNP will go through a series of steps to accurately assess and diagnose a sports injury. They will start by taking the patient’s medical history, asking how the injury happened, and also taking time to understand the patient’s overall health status. They will go on to ask whether the patient has increased or changed their exercise routine leading up to the injury. The FNP will examine the injured area, pressing on it to determine the level of pain or tenderness. They will ask the patient to move the injured part to test its range of motion.

The FNP may order diagnostic tests such as X-rays to look for broken bones or an ultrasound scan to investigate soft tissue injury. Sometimes, a more in-depth scan, such as an MRI or C.T. scan is required. Once the FNP has analyzed the scans, they can proceed to a diagnosis of the patient’s injury based on the history, physical examination and scan results. 

Following diagnosis, the FNP will devise a treatment plan. Treatment will depend on where the injury is and its severity. For example, for a simple sprained ankle, the FNP may advise the patient to follow the RICE protocol for a few days. This involves resting the injured ankle, using ice and wearing a compression bandage to reduce swelling while elevating the ankle, again to reduce swelling and to help drain excess fluid. Other treatments for sports injuries include immobilizing the affected area with a splint or sling, taking pain-relieving medication, offering pain-relieving injections, physical therapy or surgery. 

FNPs may prescribe medications to help their patients manage and recover from sports injuries. Note that some states have issued nurse practitioners “full practice” rights, which means they don’t require supervision from a physician to do so. Other states grant nurse practitioners “reduced” or “restricted” practice, so they require the authorization of a physician to prescribe medications. 

In the case of FNPs with full practice rights, they will decide which medication will work the best for the patient and proceed with the prescription. They may simply recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen or write a prescription for a stronger painkiller such as codeine. They may also offer anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids, which the FNP will inject into the affected area.  

With severe or complicated injuries, an FNP may refer their patient to a specialist. For example, in the case of a broken bone, they will refer the patient to an orthopedic surgeon for appropriate treatment, which may involve surgery. FNPs may also refer patients with sports injuries to a physical therapist, who can advise them on exercise plans and other treatments to help manage their injury and promote healing. As part of this process, the FNP will draw on their communication and collaboration skills to liaise with other healthcare professionals. 

As a highly trained and experienced healthcare professional, an FNP can provide many aspects of rehabilitation and physical therapy. Part of this process involves setting goals with the ultimate aim of achieving full recovery from the sports injury. The FNP will suggest and determine these goals with the patient and monitor their rehabilitation toward recovery. To help them achieve each milestone and their final goal, the FNP may advise on simple exercises or activities that the patient can practice at home. 

They may also discuss lifestyle changes the patient can make to aid recovery and prevent the injury from recurring, for example, practicing a gentler form of exercise. Alternatively, they may refer the patient to a physical therapist who can offer them a more in-depth treatment program tailored to their unique needs. Either way, the FNP will continue to monitor their patient’s progress until they are satisfied that they have achieved their final goal of recovering from the original injury. 

Patient education is a major focus of the role of nurse practitioners since their responsibilities not only include helping patients recover from illness and injury but also promoting their health and wellbeing. In line with this goal, the FNP will offer patients with sports injuries advice on self-care and management at home, along with advice on exercising safely in the future. Education for patients affected by sports injuries also includes advice on eating a healthy diet to aid healing, rest and emotional wellbeing techniques to ensure a full and holistic recovery. FNPs may also provide general advice on exercise and regimes that are suitable for individual patient’s goals, fitness levels, abilities and needs. 

FNPs may also deliver injury prevention programs to reduce the risk of sports injuries. These include offering patients advice on developing an activity program that includes cardiovascular exercise, flexibility and strength training. They can explain to patients how each of these types of exercise can help them stay fit and prevent injury, for example, advising on strength training as a way to strengthen bones and mitigate bone loss in middle age. 

Nurse-led injury prevention programs may also include education on the different muscle groups and how they work, the importance of warming up and cooling down and the body’s needs in terms of nutrition and hydration. With their advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology, FNPs are ideally placed to deliver information to patients to help prevent injuries. They may also refer patients to physical or other types of therapists who can offer additional insights into preventing injury. 

Working principally in primary care, a family nurse practitioner is in the rewarding position of seeing their patients over the long term, enabling them to build valuable relationships. Many sports injuries take time to heal, and part of the FNP’s job will be to provide psychological and social support to patients to help keep them motivated and on track with their rehabilitation. A positive relationship between the FNP and the patient means that the patient is more likely to stick to self-care at home and attend follow-up appointments, aiding in the recovery process. Fostering positivity in this way is a crucial part of a patient’s recovery and can help ensure that patients complete their treatment plan and accept advice on injury prevention moving forward. 

An FNP will schedule regular follow-up appointments with their sports injury patients, allowing them to monitor their progress and help the patient work towards completing treatment. As part of these follow-up appointments, the FNP will examine their patient and assess their progress, modifying their treatment plan if necessary. This also gives them the chance to refer patients to other healthcare professionals if additional issues arise. This part of the FNP’s role also relates to psychosocial support since these appointments offer the chance for the patient to air any concerns or worries about their injury or any other aspect of their health.

As you can see from the above description of an FNP’s role in assisting patients with sports injuries, this area of work capitalizes on many different areas of an FNP’s skills and knowledge. It’s clear that this is a highly rewarding position, which involves building relationships with patients and empowering them to achieve their best health status. If you’re already practicing as a registered licensed nurse and are wondering how to transition to a family nurse practitioner role, then know that there is a flexible route to achieving this goal.

Online DNP FNP programs provided through reputable institutions such as Walsh University are a convenient way for registered nurses to train to become family nurse practitioners. As the coursework is online, you can study from any location that’s convenient to you. The Online BSN to DNP-FNP program offered by Walsh University allows you to complete your Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner degree in as little as three years. This program is designed for nurses who already hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing who wish to qualify to work as an FNP. This program prepares you to deliver evidence-based care while developing both your clinical and leadership skills.

Earning this qualification puts you in a strong position to apply for FNP positions, whether you wish to specialize in sports injuries, another area such as women’s health, or work in a general practice setting. Know that studying online doesn’t mean that you will be on your own — a clinical placement coordinator will work closely with you to find you suitable practical experiences where you can put your skills to the test. You’ll also benefit from a two-day on-campus session providing valuable training, workshops and assessments.

This program helps you develop the confidence and practical and leadership skills to work in senior nursing roles, for instance, as an FNP dealing with sports injuries. It’s perhaps one of the most flexible ways to enhance your career prospects as a nurse, opening up a whole new world of professional opportunities.

The role of the FNP offers a world of specialties and settings where senior nurses can use their skills and experience to the maximum. Sports injuries are one such specialty that appeals to many FNPs since it offers them the chance to build relationships with patients and see them work towards achievable goals. This makes it an incredibly satisfying area in which to practice.