How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
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- Family nurse practitioners specialize in family medicine and primary care of patients of all ages.
- You need at least a master's degree in nursing to become a family nurse practitioner.
- Becoming a family nurse practitioner typically takes 6-8 years of full-time study.
If you're compassionate and have a desire to work closely with children and families in a healthcare setting, consider pursuing a career as a family nurse practitioner (FNP). These professionals often work in primary care clinics and hospitals, where they provide a wide range of healthcare services to patients of all ages.
If you're considering this nursing career, it's important to understand the educational requirements and responsibilities that come with the FNP role. It's a long journey that begins with a nursing degree and culminates in a master's or doctoral degree and nurse practitioner (NP) licensure.
In this article, we'll discuss what an FNP is, what they do, and the steps to becoming one.
What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
A family nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who delivers a wide range of health services, focusing on family care. FNPs cater to patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. They manage both acute and chronic diseases, conditions, and injuries within the scope of primary care.
As an FNP, you'll have the opportunity to empower patients to maintain their health throughout their lives, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention.
What Does a Family Nurse Practitioner Do?
FNPs maintain patient health records, offer medical services, and often serve as primary care providers. An integral part of an FNP's role involves educating and counseling patients to help them make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle choices. These professionals can also do the following:
- Perform physical exams
- Prescribe medications
- Conduct and interpret diagnostic tests
- Collaborate with doctors and other nurse practitioners
Featured Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
5 Steps to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
Wondering how to become a family nurse practitioner? Here are the key steps you'll need to take:
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)
Your journey to become an FNP begins with obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing. This foundational degree equips you with the essential nursing knowledge and skills, setting the groundwork for your advanced nursing education.
A BSN program typically covers subjects in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, and other social and behavioral sciences. Most graduate nurse practitioner programs require a BSN for admission.
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam and Obtain RN Licensure
After earning your BSN, the next step is to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successfully passing this exam allows you to obtain your registered nurse (RN) license.
The NCLEX-RN exam assesses your abilities to provide safe and effective nursing care. The exam covers four major categories: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. Once you have your license, you can start working as a nurse and gaining some real-life experience in the nursing field.
Step 3: Gain Field Experience
Before you can apply to a master's in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program, you'll typically need to gain field experience as a licensed RN.
Working as an RN allows you to apply your theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, develop your nursing skills, and gain the necessary clinical experience you need for MSN programs. Furthermore, it helps you build professional networks and smoothly transition from a student to a professional nurse, preparing you for advanced practice.
Step 4: Earn an MSN or DNP + Select an FNP Focus
With field experience under your belt, the next step is to pursue a master's degree in nursing with a family nurse practitioner focus. These programs delve deeper into advanced nursing concepts and typically include courses in health evaluation, disease processes, drug therapy, and family healthcare.
Be sure to select a program accredited by organizations like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing to ensure quality education and eligibility for certification.
Keep in mind that some major nursing organizations have endorsed changing the minimum entry-level requirement for becoming an APRN from an MSN to a DNP by 2025. This means that some schools are no longer offering MSN programs, instead offering DNP programs.
Step 5: Pass the NP Certification Exam and Obtain NP Licensure
The final step in your journey is to pass the NP certification exam and obtain licensure. Administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, this exam tests your knowledge and competencies across a range of patient ages.
Passing the exam demonstrates your proficiency in key areas such as health assessment, pathophysiology, and therapeutics. Once you pass, you can apply for your NP licensure, making you eligible to begin working as a family nurse practitioner.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner?
The length of time it takes to become an FNP can vary, but typically ranges from 6-8 years, including your RN work experience. BSN programs typically require four years of full-time study, while MSN programs take about two years to complete, on average. If you opt to earn a DNP instead of an MSN, it could take 3-5 years to complete.
This timeline can be influenced by factors such as your existing nursing competency level, transferable credit units, and whether you choose to study full-time or part-time. You may also be able to find accelerated BSN and MSN programs to speed up your degree completion time.
Family Nurse Practitioner Salary and Demand
The financial aspect of your career choice is undeniably important. So, how much does a family nurse practitioner make? In May 2022, the median annual nurse practitioner salary was $125,900, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
However, your earnings can vary widely due to factors like location, the industry you work in, and your experience. For example, the top 10% of NPs earned more than $200,000. These top NP earners likely have many years of experience under their belts.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for NPs appears promising, too. The BLS predicts a staggering 38% growth in NP roles from 2022 to 2032, suggesting a bright future in this rewarding career path.
Featured Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner
Should family nurse practitioners get a doctorate degree?
While an MSN degree is sufficient for you to become a family nurse practitioner, a doctor of nursing practice can help you secure senior leadership roles and possibly a higher salary.
With a DNP, you'll have the opportunity to specialize further in your focus area or even work in academia if you're interested in pursuing a path in research. Also, some schools are phasing out their MSN programs in favor of offering DNP programs.
Of course, going back to school to earn your doctorate requires more time and money to obtain. Whether to pursue a DNP ultimately depends on your career goals, finances, and personal circumstances.
What degree do you need to be a family nurse practitioner?
Family nurse practitioners only need a master's degree, but there is a movement within nursing organizations to make a DNP degree the standard entry-level education for APRNs by 2025.
The AACN has been advocating for a shift towards DNP-level education for APRNs for the last decade or so, and the change is expected to go into effect in the next few years -- potentially by 2025. But for now, to become a nurse practitioner, you'll need to earn an MSN with a focus on family medicine.
Where do family nurse practitioners work?
Family nurse practitioners work in diverse settings such as community health centers, private practices, outpatient hospital clinics, urgent care centers, rural health clinics, educational institutions, specialty clinics, and through telemedicine services, providing care to patients across all age groups.
Is a family nurse practitioner a doctor?
Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses with graduate-level education, but they are not physicians with MD or DO degrees.
Some FNPs have a doctoral degree and use the title 'doctor' in certain settings, but they are not the same as medical doctors. The use of the title 'doctor' by FNPs in clinical settings is subject to state laws and institutional policies.
