Online Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Provide primary and preventative care to patients of all ages.
As part of health care’s increasing focus on preventative care, nurse practitioners are increasingly taking on primary care responsibilities as autonomous providers or in collaboration with other health care professionals. The online Family Nurse Practitioner specialization of the online Master of Science in Nursing program focuses on the advanced skills specific to providing primary clinical care to individuals of all ages.
As autonomous care providers, Family Nurse Practitioners can:
- Conduct physical examinations
- Diagnose diseases and injuries
- Treat common illnesses
To prepare for these responsibilities, coursework focuses heavily on primary care topics as well as advanced health assessment, pharmacology and health care research. Most coursework is offered online; however, an on-site orientation and two onsite competency/evaluation visits are required.
This program prepares you for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exams offered by the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Career Outlook for Family Nurse Practitioners
Demand for nurse practitioners, including Family Nurse Practitioners, is high: employment is expected to grow 34 percent between 2014 and 2024, driven by the increasing number of Americans with health insurance, a greater focus on prevention and an aging population.
The mean annual wage for nurse practitioners as of May 2015 was $101,2601 — significantly higher than the average annual wage of $83,002 for all MSN-prepared nurses.
Family Nurse Practitioners are employed in a wide variety of health care settings, including physicians’ offices, hospitals and outpatient clinics. The areas with the highest mean wages are2:
- Personal care services, such as home health care ($135,290)
- Specialty hospitals, except psychiatric and substance abuse centers ($117,690)
- Business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations ($108,060)
To learn more about Sacred Heart’s online Family Nurse Practitioner specialization, complete the form above or call us toll free at (877) 791-7181.
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (visited 11/17/2016).
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, Nurse Practitioners, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm, visited 11/17/16.
I am a current RN with an active license.
