Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Role Specialization
Family nurse practitioners are expert healthcare providers – registered nurses with an advanced classroom and clinical education in an area of expertise. They play a critical role in improving the primary patient care experience [1].
As a primary care provider, the FNP will work with infants, children, adults and families to promote preventative care, diagnose conditions, and treat acute and chronic illnesses. The FNP’s responsibilities include taking patient histories, performing physical exams, administering immunizations, managing chronic health problems, ordering and interpreting lab tests, prescribing medication and other therapies, providing family planning services, and providing resources for healthy lifestyles.
Potential Roles
Nurse practitioners are recognized as expert healthcare providers, and deliver basic care across the lifespan, in a variety settings.
Career Settings
While nursing roles are population-focused, not setting-specific, family nurse practitioners may work in the following outpatient and inpatient settings:
• Private practice offices
• Community health centers
• Rural health clinics
• Hospital outpatient clinics
• Occupational/employee health
• Urgent care centers
The FNP role is in high demand due to an aging and growing population. [1] According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 31 percent through 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. [2]
Role Specialty Learning Outcomes
In addition to the program learning outcomes, graduates with a family nurse practitioner role specialty would achieve the following role specialty learning outcomes:
- Perform comprehensive health assessments that incorporate diagnostic reasoning and the interpretation of diagnostic procedures.
- Engage patients and families in planning for health promotion, prevention of disease or disease progression, and symptom management.
- Apply critical thinking in the diagnosis and problem identification of complex issues related to clinical practice, individuals, populations, and systems of care.
- Provide ethical, patient-centered care based on best evidence, clinician expertise, patient preference, and circumstances.
- Evaluate outcomes of care using individual and aggregate data.
- Implement the role of a FNP in a professional, respectful, and ethical manner.
Practica
This program requires 585 clock hours of practica with a preceptor who is a nurse practitioner. The purpose of the practicum experiences is to learn the role of a family nurse practitioner from someone who is actually working in your desired role specialty and to provide you experiential learning in the role of a family nurse practitioner. Practicum placements are determined by USAHS based on the student’s academic needs and to provide the best educational experience. Students should plan on the need to travel and/or relocate for practica.
Intensives
At USAHS, our three-day hands-on clinical residencies allow you to fine tune your advanced practice nursing skills in one of our Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice. You will benefit from real-world demonstrations, personalized feedback and support, supervised activities with expert faculty, and the opportunity to connect with fellow students. Using Standardized Patients for head-to-toe assessments or practicing suturing are examples of residency experiences. Intensives may be held at any of our campus locations.
On-campus Immersions
FNP students may also choose to participate in an optional on-campus immersion program at one of USAHS’ four destination campuses.
During the immersion, you will broaden your perspective through interprofessional learning activities, hone your oral presentation skills, network with alumni and health care professionals, meet one-on-one with your program director, and collaborate with peers from various programs.
Immersion programs are completed in twelve hours, over two-and-a-half days. Additionally, course time will be shortened by approximately four weeks.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and BSN to DNP students at USAHS may choose to pursue the FNP specialization, and complete the required courses. Learn more about additional nursing specializations at USAHS.
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020.Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/health-workforce-analysis/primary-care-2020
[2] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (visited April 04, 2017).
