Why Earn a Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Degree?
Nurse practitioners are nurses who have attained additional certification and training in primary health care. Graduates of a Family Nurse Practitioner Master's degree program will be able to provide medical care and help with community-based case management in many settings, such as hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices. Upon completion of a Family Nurse Practitioner Master's degree program, graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam.
Career Possibilities
Family Nurse Practitioner Occupational Outlook:
The occuptational outlook for family nurse practitioners is excellent, as the demand rate for this career is expected to grow much faster than the average for other occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) states that the nursing profession is going to create the second most number of jobs for all professions.
Family Nurse Practitioner Salary Information:
Family nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $75,000; however, some graduates of this master's degree may choose to take careers in the field of hospital administration, which could result in higher annual salaries.
Degree Specifics
Coursework Required for a Family Nurse Practitioner:
Becoming a family nurse practitioner requires that graduates of this master's program develop advanced clinical nursing skills as well as administrative abilities. To develop these, the following courses may be included in the program:
- Health Policy and Finance
- Human Diversity
- Medical Ethics
- Research
- Clinical Requirements in Acute, Psychiatric, Family and Adult Care
Skills Acquired:
Upon graduation, students of a Family Nurse Practitioner Master's degree program should have well developed administrative and clinical skills. In order to become a crucial member of a modern medical team, graduates should also have the following skills:
- Advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Knowledge of advanced nursing practices
- Research abilities that facilitate addressing patients' health care needs
- Administrative and organizational management skills
