Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) have always been essential to healthcare. According to Johnson & Johnson Nursing, an FNP “specializes in the primary and specialty care of patients of all ages. In general, FNPs focus on preventative care, monitoring their long-term health, and assisting physicians with any issues that might arise.”
A unique characteristic of this career is that FNPs can care for multiple types of patients. They generally don’t have a specific specialty that prefers one patient demographic over the other.
Many FNPs have now had to take over jobs in the healthcare field because there are not enough trained primary care physicians in the industry. As such, Johnson & Johnson notes that FNPs are one of the most highly compensated professionals in the industry and have the potential to earn even more as nurses progress in their careers. According to Salary.com, the average salary of an FNP in the U.S. is $119,610 annually (as of December 2022).
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Family Nurse Practitioner online program from William Paterson University (WP) equips graduates with the in-demand FNP and healthcare skills that employers seek.
Daily Responsibilities of an FNP
Per the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), FNPs have three main objectives: educating, managing and treating patients.
FNPs are responsible for educating patients to keep individuals apprised about their specific health concerns and find a way to alleviate ailments. FNPs accomplish this by answering questions for each patient. Additionally, FNPs are required to maintain all patient health records confidentially. As a result, they can prescribe treatments and also work to instill preventative health behaviors among their patient population.
Logistically, the AANP explains, FNPs “perform physical exams; order or perform diagnostic tests; prescribe medications; develop treatment plans; and treat acute and chronic illnesses, conditions and injuries that fall under primary care.”
Finally, all FNPs are trained to treat patients with the same respect, empathy and compassion to ensure they are satisfied with their healthcare visit and to promote favorable outcomes.
Career Environments for FNPs
Nurse practitioners, overall, have a wide range of options in terms of spaces where they can work. These spaces include, but are not limited to:
- Community centers. Those who work in community centers generally do not care for patients at a healthcare facility. Rather, they are there to answer any questions individuals might have. They tend to act as teachers within the community.
- Doctors’ offices. Many FNPs who work alongside physicians are typically there to assist them instead of providing the main healthcare service. They work with medical doctors to communicate with patients and provide top-level care.
- Hospitals. FNPs in hospitals are unique because of their work. These practitioners are typically knowledgeable in more than just “regular” day-to-day patient care. They possess a certain level of knowledge that allows them to serve in this role.
- Clinics. FNPs in clinics typically perform the same duties as those in hospitals, but they do so independently and assess patients through direct care.
- Telemedicine. The virtual space has grown popular over the years and hit a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine also provides the much-desired convenience of talking to a healthcare provider at home. FNPs can answer questions without physically being with the patient, making it easier for the individual to receive the same high-quality care.
Prisons and jails. Nurse practitioners in correctional facilities have an important role of providing medical care and services to inmates. They observe and evaluate patients, perform case studies, complete examinations and order patient laboratory tests.
- Home care. Home health nurse practitioners are crucial for providing care to chronically ill patients of all ages. Some of their main responsibilities include assessing patients, diagnosing diseases, providing treatments and evaluating patient well-being. They also facilitate communication among patients and caregivers.
Other spaces that have a need for FNPs include internal medicine offices, rehab and long-term care facilities, specialty clinics, university student health centers and ambulatory care.
Consider Multiple Opportunities With a Master’s Degree
One way to transform your career as a nursing professional is to consider multiple opportunities as an FNP and earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Graduates of WP’s online MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner program will be prepared to assess and promote the health of a wide spectrum of patients.
Students will equip themselves with the advanced knowledge and qualifications needed to provide primary care to patients of all ages — from children to the geriatric population. This intensive program allows all students to apply advanced knowledge of nursing theories, related sciences and humanities and methods of inquiry in the delivery of healthcare services.
For example, the Advanced Nursing Practice I-III courses cover the basics of the responsibilities of FNPs and the development of healthcare in today’s environment. In Advanced Pharmacology, students focus on the information that will enable them to apply clinical pharmacotherapeutics to individualized client care. Students can complete the program in as few as 20 months. Each future FNP will obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to enter influential roles in healthcare departments.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner program.
