How and Why to Become Family Nurse Practitioner

The year 2020 delivered a lot of blows, and taught many people lessons they had never been forced to learn in a lifetime. At the very heart of it all, however, people learned to appreciate the healthcare and medical community in a whole new light, understanding just how important they are. It should come as no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic brought to the forefront the many job opportunities the healthcare industry has to offer, whether that is front-line staff, patient-facing positions, or even back office administration people. Each position plays an important role in keeping people healthy.

The career of a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is one that has really gained steam and started to become more well-known, not just to patients but to prospective students looking for that "perfect" career to pursue, and those already working in the medical industry who want to move up the career ladder. 

So, what's involved in becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, and why might it be a good career path for you? Let's break down all the essential information, look at the steps involved, and provide some advice that will help if you choose to pursue this career.

What Does a Family Nurse Practitioner Do?

The world of healthcare is vast, and quite frankly that's an understatement. There are so many different jobs that all rely on each other, and depend on each other in order to keep the wheels turning smoothly and provide patients with high-quality, equitable care. 

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, you will be working with patients first-hand. It will be your job to evaluate them, diagnose them, treat them, prescribe medication, and also work with any other health care providers necessary in the patient's care. There is also a real focus on holistic care. As an FNP, a big part of your job will be to provide education to your patients on how they can make healthy life choices, improve their overall health, and even prevent illness from happening.

Unlike the very demanding shifts that RNs are forced to work, as an FNP you'll also have more control over your work hours. It's common to work an 8, 10, or 12 hour shift giving you the freedom of flexibility and choice.

Your patients will range in age from 0 right up to end of life. It's common to work in outpatient clinics, in a private practice, in urgent care clinics, in schools, and in hospitals. Because you have such wide-stretching options it can really give you a sense that you are making a difference and helping people. 

What is the Career Outlook for an FNP?

In terms of a nurse practitioner, this is a career path that is currently going through huge amounts of growth. Healthcare jobs in general are in high-demand as employers struggle to fill all the available spots, so pursuing this path all but guarantees you'll be able to find a job. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups nurse practitioners with other jobs such as nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists, and shows a job growth of 45% by 2029. This is much faster and higher than the national job growth rate. As for the average yearly wage for nurse practitioners, the BLS has it listed as $111,840 as of 2019.

Now you can take these same categories of job growth and median pay and apply it to registered nurses and there is a shocking difference. Job growth is only listed at 7% for RNs and they have a median pay of $73,300. Obviously taking that next step and pursuing a career as an FNP can make a massive difference in terms of your career outlook.

How to Become an FNP

Because Nurse Practitioners (NP) are classified as a very Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), and are in fact the most highly trained of all the registered nurses, you can expect that there will be a number of steps you need to take. First you need to already be a graduate of a registered nursing program. That includes having passed your RN licensure exam, which is called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Once you've obtained a Bachelor's in Nursing you can then move on and apply for a higher level program - a Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program.

Now it should be noted that there is no reason to do all your schooling at once. In other words, after graduating and becoming an RN you can choose to work in the field for a while and get experience, make some money, and then enroll in an FNP program down the road. It's a great way for registered nurses to take that next step.

This site goes into more details on how to become an FNP, including how to enrol, what the program entails, and even what to expect in the final FNP exam - which you need to pass.

Not All States Allow FNPs to Practice

One very important thing to keep in mind for those eyeing up a career as an FNP is that not every state offers the right to practice. In fact there are only 22 states, and Washington D.C. who currently make it possible for FNPs to fully practice. There are another 16 states that offer reduced practice, and then there are 12 that restrict practice - but look for some of these restricted states to evolve and perhaps change categories.

What's interesting is that the healthcare industry as a whole is starting to go through a real shift wherein it has become more common for patients to have a nurse practitioner involved in their care, even in a hospital setting. These NPs are focusing on direct care, allowing physicians to focus more on the complex issues that arise in the hospital setting. As this situation continues to change and shift that too can affect which states FNPs are restricted from practicing in.

An Intriguing and Exciting Job Path

So, if you're looking to map out a career in healthcare, or you're already an RN who is now looking for ways to move up the career ladder, pursuing your Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner program could be the ideal path for you.