Anyone in the field of nursing can tell you that there isn’t one level of nursing, or role within, that isn’t suffering shortages of qualified nurses. Whether you are new to the field of nursing or are about to begin studying this as your chosen life’s career, you may be curious as to exactly what you can do with a nursing degree. With so many career options and various levels of degrees within the field of nursing, you may be considering what life would be like as a family nurse practitioner (FNP).
It sounds intriguing to you so the first thing you might want to consider is how you can become a family nurse practitioner, after which you can explore your options for a career path to follow. We can help you there. First we will look at the degree you will need, and then we will explore the top five ways to use that FNP degree you worked so diligently towards.
What Degree Will You Need to Practice as an FNP?
The minimum degree you will need to become an FNP is a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Family Practice. How you get this degree differs from university to university. Some universities offer online degree programs and others only offer on-campus courses. However, online degree programs are becoming increasingly available, so this is the option most RNs take when seeking to advance their BSN to an MSN.
However, it isn’t always necessary to hold a bachelor’s degree when working toward an FNP degree. RNs with an associate degree can also enter the program but it will obviously take longer. It boils down to just a little more than two years for a nurse entering the MSN program with a BSN degree, but it will take approximately three additional years only for someone entering with an ADN. That’s why many RNs with an ADN go directly into the advanced coursework to achieve that MSN degree.
Most nurses pursuing a degree now prefer online curriculum because it enables them to maintain fulltime employment for the duration. If you want to read more about how to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, follow the link.
A Quick Summary of the Top 5 Ways to Use That Degree
The simplest way to describe exactly what a family nurse practitioner does is to look at five of the top ways to use their degree. With that said, earning potential and a certain level of autonomy are also key factors that influence why nurses want to achieve that degree. Autonomy also varies from state to state and practice to practice, so that is something you will need to research in the state or practice in which you intend to work.
1. Outpatient Clinics
With such a shortage in medical professionals, especially MDs, more and more outpatient clinics are emerging across the country. FNPs find a ‘home’ quickly in this type of setting because they can do much of what a physician does with various levels of autonomy. Some states require FNPs to work under the auspices of an MD and other states grant them full autonomy.
2. Private Practice in Primary Care
Some family nurse practitioners open their own primary care practice, especially in more rural areas of the country that lack GPs. Whether you specialize in pediatrics, family care as a whole or even geriatrics, you can go into private practice, but remember, you may need to be supervised by an MD, depending on the state in which you establish your private practice office.
3. Public Health
Public Health runs the gambit of any clinics that work in city, county or state settings. This could be Public Health Clinics that provide primary care, especially to women and children. Some schools still hire FNPs to screen students for such things as behavioral health and mental health issues. They also provide wellness checks and will often communicate directly with families over any concerns they may have for the children in their care. When working in Public Health clinics, FNPs often function in the realm of communicable diseases in detection and prevention such as in terms of influenza, Covid-19, and STDs.
4. Physician’s Offices
Most physicians are simply overwhelmed due to the lack of doctors. This is a foregone fact and one which is being addressed by contracting FNPs to work alongside them. Many newly degreed FNPs choose this path as a sort of “internship” so that they become better acquainted with what it means to be the actual provider. From there many go into private practice for themselves, but others choose to continue right where they are. It’s a personal preference, but one that is open to them if they choose.
5. Education
With a Master of Science in Nursing, in any discipline, you can teach nursing in vocational schools as well as some 2-year colleges. The “rule of thumb” for educators is to have at least one degree level above the classes you are teaching, so you could get involved in academia if you want to inspire the next generation of nurses in terms of clinical care. Nurses at all levels are on the front lines, so patient care is something to be carefully addressed. Who better than a nurse to express just how important it is to communicate with and care for patients suffering from any number of health related concerns and illnesses?
In Any FNP Degree Path You Choose – You Are Needed
The one thing that can be definitively said is that all nurses at all levels of practice are needed. As an FNP you can be more than the liaison between the patient and their provider. You can be their provider, and with a background in nursing, you are almost always going to be able to quickly establish a rapport with your patients. In almost all surveys, patients express the fact that they are more at ease with FNPs than MDs, resulting in a much higher level of patient satisfaction. Whether you choose to work in Public Health, Private Practice or in Outpatient Clinics, there is one thing of which you can be certain. You are needed!
