Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Career
What Do You Do in This Career?
Nurse Practitioners can specialize in many areas, one of which is providing health care to entire families. Like family doctors, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are trained to provide care to all ages, from mother-to-be to baby to grandfather. They promote disease prevention and can diagnose and plan treatments for most illnesses. FNPs specialize in having a wide range of knowledge; instead of narrowing their scope, they expand it, although the focus is on preventive care. The job is flexible and autonomous, and many FNPs work in private offices, clinics, schools and even homes. Since nurses are less expensive than doctors, nurse practitioners who can care for such a wide range of patients will be in high demand.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: FNP salaries range between $62,398 and $97,929 depending on where you practice, your education and experience, and the type of facility you work in. NPs can also earn more if they decide to specialize in a particular area.
- FNP Requirements: FNPs are required to first be registered nurses (RNs) as well as earn a master’s degree or higher. Additional coursework may be required to become an FNP, and you must also pass the National Board certification.
- Work Environment: FNPs work in a range of settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, community health centers, clinics, and nursing homes. Some FNPs maybe even travel to patients’ homes to treat them.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
Nurse practitioner programs that offer a specialization in family practice nursing will include coursework in diagnosing and treating common illnesses, as well as how to teach patients about health and preventive services. FNPs also have to know clinical skills such as taking patient history, performing physical exams, and health screenings. Nursing issues and ethics, research, health policy, and theory are also covered. FNPs should have a good understanding of health care for patients of all ages.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.
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Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
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Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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University of Phoenix — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. |
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Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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