The Path to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

Decades ago, Registered Nurses (RN) wore all white, topped their heads with boxy hats, and gave up their chairs to doctors. As an RN today, you can pursue advanced degrees and positions that influence the health and education of the patients and communities where you live. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), who make up one branch of advanced practice nurses, have been touted as the most versatile of all nurse practitioners thanks to their ability to specialize within the field and treat patients of all ages.

Job demand is expected to grow in the next decade with more than 55,000 jobs available to FNP graduates. FNPs have proven valuable in the struggle to alleviate the effects of the physician shortage and provide access to primary health care in regions where medical care is sparse. FNPs have also proven their worth in acute care settings where they have saved medical facilities thousands of dollars over physician staff while still providing quality care with positive clinical outcomes.

In order to become an FNP, an RN must earn a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program. Depending on where you enroll, your educational institution may require one to two years of work experience in a specific field (like critical care or medical surgical) as an RN before you apply.

There are a variety of FNP programs available across the country, and it will be up to you to decide which program works best for you. If there is a college or university nearby that offers your program of interest, or if you have the flexibility to take time off work or relocate, a traditional campus-based program may work for you. However, if you are working full time while juggling a family and a hectic social schedule, you may find spending time in a physical classroom difficult. That is when an online program may be best. Depending on the program, classes will be held online and may not require you to come to campus at all. Other programs may require you to be on campus on weekends, or one weekend each month. Online programs are very popular and often provide the same quality education as a classroom-only format. The admissions team at your college of interest will be able to answer questions about the program’s schedule.

An FNP program usually takes about 18 months to complete if you are enrolled full-time. Part-time students can expect to take two years to complete their program. Most programs require between 35 and 48 credits of classroom time plus the clinical practicum. The clinical practicum is your chance to work hands-on beside another FNP. Your school may offer clinical placement services, or you may be required to find your own. Clinical hours will vary from program to program but usually range between 450 and 675 hours.

Once you complete your classroom and clinical time, you will have one final task to complete before becoming a certified FNP. As an FNP graduate you will need to successfully complete the national certification exam in order to practice. The exam, which is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), will test your knowledge and ability to apply solid assessment, diagnosis, and problem-solving skills. New FNPs will also need to follow the scope of practice guidelines for their state, register with their board of nursing, and gain prescriptive authority if desired.

FNPs work in a variety of settings. These may include hospitals, clinics, and physician offices, or FNPs may choose to go out on their own and set up independent practices. Many FNPs are choosing to work in inner cities and rural areas where health care access is low. FNPs often have more flexibility after graduation and can choose to move into specialties that may include women’s health, pediatrics, cardiac, or internal medicine.

Whether you are looking for autonomy in your practice or skills to move into a specialized area of nursing, earning an advanced degree can take your nursing career to the next level. Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers an FNP program online, which means you can earn your degree without relocating or putting your current nursing career on hold. To learn more, call one of our Admissions Counselors at 1-855-461-7466.