Demand for family nurse practitioner jobs
There is an increased need for family nurse practitioner jobs especially in rural and inner-city areas. This demand is attributed to an aging population which brings greater health complications and the need for more medical care, as well as many people who are uninsured being able to access healthcare through government initiatives. There are not enough family practice doctors to meet this need and so family nurse practitioners are required.
Family nurse practitioner job description
The job description of an advanced family nurse involves educating families about how to live a healthy lifestyle and performing routine health checks. They have the training to diagnose illnesses, conduct physical examinations, and order laboratory tests. Their position allows them to treat non-life threatening medical conditions, manage chronic diseases, administer immunizations, prescribe medication, and provide therapy and rehabilitation. It is also necessary for a family nurse practitioner to keep in contact with other professionals and with the patient’s physician and to follow-up with patients who were admitted to hospital or who have been attending a specialist.
The role of the nurse practitioner largely depends on the needs of the practice setting where they work. There could be specialized advanced practice nurses within the facility such as geriatric or pediatric nurse practitioners. In this case, a family nurse practitioner may focus on young and middle-aged adults.
Family nurse practitioner job settings
A family nurse practitioner will normally work in a general health clinic with patients of all ages. They can also find jobs in private offices, hospice centers, nursing homes and schools. Very few will work in hospital settings. Some states allow family nurse practitioners to have their own private practices, while other states require that they work in a practice that has a licensed medical doctor. There is also the possibility of travelling, for example, by working as part of a medical team on a cruise ship. For some, the job involves regular nine to five working hours, while others work night shifts and weekends and perform on-call duties.
Family nurse practitioner training
Education requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing followed by experience working as a licensed registered nurse. Only then can a nurse be eligible to apply to a nurse practitioner school to study for a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in family nursing. Family nurse practitioner programs will include a core of advanced nursing skills with teaching on health promotion, disease prevention, illness assessment and management. By 2015 a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will be required to become a family nurse practitioner. The doctorate program focuses on more advanced clinical skills and leadership abilities. Georgetown University, Washington DC is an example of a leading academic institution that offers an MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner degree and also provides online nurse practitioner programs for those who wish to keep working while studying.
Family nurse practitioner certification
A newly qualified practitioner needs to pass the certification examination of the state in which they hope to practise. In addition to state certification, it is also advisable to obtain national certification from either the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Association. They have stringent standards that need to be met and obtaining credentials from these respected organizations gives credibility to your competence as a family nurse practitioner.
Family nurse practitioner benefits
Although it will cost around $35,000 to $57,000 to complete a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Nursing degrees, there will be a significant return on investment with a family nurse practitioner salary. The average salary is $89,787 with a range from $65,000 to $95,000, so you can expect to earn at least $20,000 more than a registered nurse. The primary factors affecting wages being education, experience, the cost of living within the city and state, and the type of work performed. In addition to the excellent financial remuneration a family nurse practitioner job usually accrues bonuses, paid vacation, health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition reimbursement or specialized loans for pursuing further education.
A family nurse practitioner is able to treat patients with greater autonomy and more flexibility than many other specialized nurse practitioners since they are authorized to treat patients of all ages with a wide range of health needs. They also have the ability to be more actively involved in directly caring for patients than registered nurses.
As a family nurse practitioner you can serve the whole family’s healthcare needs. It is a highly rewarding job in that you have the opportunity to get to know your patients very well, often building relationships with them from childhood through to adulthood. The job also affords career stability as many family nurse practitioners work in the same location for years.
Family nurses can advance in their career by opening their own clinic (depending on state laws), becoming nurse educators, researchers, administrators and policy-makers.
If you choose to become a family nurse practitioner you will have the chance to influence the lives of others and help families live healthier, and therefore you will derive job satisfaction.
