Careers in Nursing | Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Career Overview

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are advanced practice nurses who specialize in providing health promotion and care to patients in primary care settings. FNPs provide primary screenings and focus on health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan. They have many of the same duties as acute care practitioners but typically do not work with patients who are critically ill. They perform physical examinations, order diagnostic tests, establish diagnoses, prescribe medications, and educate patients and family members regarding health and illness conditions and treatment plans. Examples of settings in which an FNP might practice are physicians’ offices, health care clinics, private practice, hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health departments, and occupational health settings.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A Master of Science in Nursing degree with advanced practice certification as an FNP is required. Programs are generally of 2 years’ duration combining clinical and didactic work. Certification is available from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

CORE COMPETENCIES/SKILLS NEEDED

• Ability to perform physical examinations
• Ability to assess accurately when doing screenings and diagnostic tests; knowledge of normal ranges and abnormal findings
• Strong communication skills
• Teaching ability and interest
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams as well as to function independently
• Knowledge of acute and chronic conditions
• Excellent judgment in knowing when to make a referral
• Ability to prescribe medications

RELATED WEBSITE AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION

• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (www.aanp.org)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (www.nars.nursecredentialing.org)