The Role of an FNP: Family Nurse Practitioner Duties & Requirements
If you’ve had to choose a primary care provider, a good chance is that they are family nurse practitioners by credentials. After physicians, they are one of the most common choices for primary care providers due to their holistic approach and continuous care. However, their role is often misunderstood or confused with other specialties. You might have questions such as what does FNP stand for in nursing, what the specific duties of FNPs are, and what the education requirements for this specialty are. Further we will elaborate on the role of a family nurse practitioner and other details related to it to help you find answers to your questions.
What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
Due to an ever-growing demand in the healthcare industry, nurses have gained more autonomy over time and their roles have gradually branched out to various types of specialties. Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are one among these specialized roles. They are advanced practice registered nurses who provide primary healthcare services to patients of all ages, from infants to children, teenagers, adults, and seniors.
FNPs play a crucial role in healthcare and serve both individuals and families for longer periods of time, which is why this profession is a great specialization opportunity for those who value developing long-term relationships with their patients.
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What Does a Family Nurse Practitioner Do?
FNPs have a wide range of duties and responsibilities, but that can vary depending on the authority they have. A nurse practitioner’s (NP) scope of practice is regulated by state laws and regulations and is divided into three practice environments: full practice, reduced practice, and restricted practice.
In states with full practice authority, family nurse practitioner duties include some of the following:
Recording patients’ medical histories and maintaining records on symptoms, treatments, and any prescribed medications.
Performing routine physical examinations.
Ordering diagnostic tests and evaluating their results in order to work out out the cause and diagnosis of a health issue.
Assessing and diagnosing health conditions.
Providing primary healthcare services with an emphasis on preventive care (immunization, shots, screening tests, etc.).
Prescribing and dispensing medications and other treatment methods.
Making referrals to physicians or other departments whenever appropriate.
Performing or assisting in minor invasive procedures such as cuts and laceration repairs.
Continuously learning and keeping up to date with healthcare trends.
Where Do FNPs Work?
Family nurse practitioners are qualified to work in almost any healthcare facility. The most common workplaces for FNPs include:
Physicians’ offices
Hospitals
Urgent care centers
Emergency rooms
School clinics
Private practices
FNP Salary
Becoming and practicing as an FNP requires hard work and dedication to the role, however, this career path is quite rewarding when it comes to the financial aspect. According to Payscale, the median annual salary for FNPs is $96,942, which is a $50.78 base hourly rate.
Salaries are prone to change depending on various factors such as location, certifications, years of experience, work setting, etc.
Career Outlook
Nurse practitioner jobs are highly in demand due to the increasing need for specialized healthcare professionals. Graduating from a Family Nurse Practitioner program will open many doors for employment in this role, as the job outlook for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)—a category that includes FNPs—is expected to grow by 45 percent from 2019 to 2029.
The growth in demand for FNPs also comes as a result of the increasing autonomy of this role, where many FNPs will serve as primary care providers and have a scope of work that is very similar to that of physicians.
How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
The FNP path will require additional years of education and clinical experience. While the route to becoming one is not easy, we have created an outline of the typical requirements for practicing as an FNP which we hope will make it easier for you to plan it all out.
Education requirements
The first educational requirement which will qualify you to specialize as an FNP is an undergraduate degree in nursing. This can either be an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Graduating from one of these degrees will equip you with the knowledge and skills that are necessary for undergoing the NCLEX-RN exam, through which you can then become a certified registered nurse (RN)
Once you have become a state-licensed RN, the typical route to becoming an FNP will consist of practicing as an RN for a period of time in order to gain experience in the field, and then undergoing the educational path to becoming an FNP.
If you want to continue your education for becoming an FNP, you can choose from accredited graduate, postgraduate, or doctorate family nurse practitioner programs. Pacific College’s Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program is an excellent choice for students who prefer a hybrid learning model in which you get to complete the coursework online, while clinical experiences are completed in local primary care settings.
Certification
After graduating from an FNP program, you will be eligible to become a certified FNP by undergoing one of the certification exams offered by two certifying organizations:
The AANP exam with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the certifying board,
The ANCC exam with the American Nurses Credentialing Center as the governing body.
After passing one of these exams, you can apply to become a state-certified FNP and start practicing in this role.
Skills
While there is a myriad of materials and on-the-job skills that students will learn throughout their studies, future FNPs should have and foster the following soft skills:
Good communication
FNPs see patients of all ages and backgrounds, therefore it is crucial that they are able to clearly talk to them in order to determine their symptoms and communicate the diagnosis and treatment.
Technology and information literacy
FNPs spend a great amount of time on electronic devices, especially when it comes to documenting patients’ past and present medical histories. Moreover, the healthcare industry is an ever-changing one, therefore it is crucial that FNPs are technology and information literate so they can keep up with the latest trends and information.
Leadership
As important figures in healthcare, FNPs will have to collaborate with patients, the community, health care teams, and policymakers, in order to provide the best treatment plans and offer the best healthcare services. As such, their role requires leadership skills that allow them to advocate for improved patient care and services.
Analytical skills
In order to anticipate and promptly respond to patients’ needs, FNPs should be able to think critically so they can solve both simple and complex problems. Objectively analyzing and evaluating information related to the patients’ health conditions will allow them to form the best judgment when it comes to their diagnosis and treatment.
Time management
There can be slow days in the healthcare facility in which you work, but often patients will come in at once (especially in urgent care centers). Therefore, it is crucial to manage your time effectively so that you keep the patients waiting as little as possible.
Empathy
The ability to understand and put themselves in their patients’ shoes is one of the crucial skills to have as a healthcare professional. This allows FNPs to establish strong relationships with their patients and consequently provide the best care.
FNPs are shaping the future of healthcare by providing primary care services and helping to meet the demand for specialized healthcare professionals. This is a gratifying role that will allow you to serve individuals and families, consequently making a difference in your community.