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Where Can Family Nurse Practitioners Work Other Than in Primary Care Settings?

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If you are thinking of becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP), you will want to know where FNPs work. Most family nurse practitioners work in primary care settings and provide care to patients of all ages, from newborn babies to seniors and older individuals.

However, if you are not keen on providing primary care, you will wonder about your other options and where you might fit in the healthcare field.

The good news is that if you do not want to work in primary care, there are many different environments you can work in.

What is a family nurse practitioner and what does an FNP do?

Before getting into the details of where you can work other than primary care services, it is essential to understand the role of a family nurse practitioner.

FNPs are advanced practice registered nurses. These nurses usually assume leadership positions in a range of healthcare settings. They collaborate with MDs to diagnose and treat patients.

Their work is different from a registered nurse, whose role is to implement the treatment plan provided by the doctor. While an FNP concentrates on ensuring optimal health and wellness through primary care and preventive medicine, they can also diagnose and manage chronic ailments and acute conditions.

However, FNPs do not treat and care for patients who are critically ill or have life-threatening conditions. When a patient’s needs and care fall outside the scope of FNP practice, an FNP collaborates with a medical doctor and other healthcare providers to refer the patient for specialty care.

As the name suggests, a family nurse practitioner concentrates on caring for patients of all ages. FNPs receive specialized education in family medicine. That means they can treat a patient across their lifespan, right from birth until old age.

Due to this, many FNPs end up treating entire families, which allows them to cultivate strong bonds with their patients. Since they have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide care for all age ranges, they can take varying career paths after getting the right qualifications.

If you have an MSN and want to achieve your full nursing potential with post master FNP online programs, you can expand both your knowledge and career options. Taking the next step in your education first can allow you to progress in your chosen career path, opening up more advanced, specialized, or senior roles.

Here are some of the roles and responsibilities of a family nurse practitioner:

  • Educating patients about health maintenance and preventing diseases.
  • Conducting wellness exams and physicals.
  • Diagnosing chronic and acute health conditions.
  • Assisting patients in managing acute and chronic conditions.
  • Prescribing medication for a patient’s condition or illness.
  • Ordering and interpreting lab tests.
  • Creating patient-specific treatment plans.
  • Referring patients for specialty care and managing their care during the transition period.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) states that over 50% of the US allows nurse practitioners to enjoy full practice authority. So, if you are in the states or US territories that allow full practice authority, you do not have to collaborate with or be supervised by a physician.

On the other hand, if you work in states and territories that have limited the practice authority of FNPs, you need to work with a qualified and licensed physician.

Where can you work after becoming an FNP?

In 2021, the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that the US would face a shortage of primary and specialty care physicians by 2034. That means that the demand for FNPs will increase, especially in areas where communities are underserved.

Usually, as primary care providers, FNPs work fewer hours than in a hospital or urgent care. So, that makes full practice authority quite attractive; it allows FNPs to maintain a higher degree of work-life balance.

However, if you are not interested in providing primary care, you can look for other settings and environments, like the following:

Specialty clinics

FNPs receive comprehensive training when they enroll in FNP programs. Hence, they are qualified to work in specialty clinics.

So, after completing your post-master FNP program, you will be able to work in cardiology, neonatology, orthopedics, dermatology, oncology, holistic health, pain management, neurology, nephrology, endocrinology, surgery, palliative care, urology, forensics, home health, or long-term care, to name a few.

It is important to note that certain specialties may require FNPs to get additional certifications before they begin taking on specialist roles. However, many specialty clinics are happy to have FNPs and provide on-the-job training.

ERs and urgent care

After graduating, you also have the option of working in an ER or urgent care. When you work full-time in a hospital, you will get to use the entire spectrum of your education regularly, as patients could come in with any condition.

There is also greater autonomy in urgent care roles, as you often have to adapt to situations and make quick decisions for your patients as they progress. ERs and urgent care facilities are constantly looking for inpatient care providers, so FNPs may find the job market less competitive.

Pediatrics

While nurse practitioners can specialize in pediatrics, many general and private practice pediatric facilities hire FNPs. In family practice, even if you do not work full-time in pediatrics, you will regularly see and treat pediatric patients.

As an FNP, you can also work in pediatric specialties, such as pediatric cardiology and pediatric gastroenterology. When you work in pediatrics, you will be focusing on acute and chronic conditions, and your FNP qualification ensures you can manage these conditions without a problem.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine has become quite popular, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in rural areas or those with mobility issues often find it difficult to get to clinics. That is where telemedicine, also referred to as telehealth, can be extremely useful.

As long as there is internet connectivity, patients can get in touch with FNPs to manage their ongoing conditions or use digital video conference technologies to have their primary care needs assessed. FNPs can provide telehealth care as part of their services with a private practice or hospital. Alternatively, they can work for professional telemedicine companies.

Women’s health

While nurse practitioners can get specialty degrees and work in gynecology, obstetrics, and women’s health, a family nurse practitioner can work in all areas of women’s health without needing a specialty degree.

FNPs are not responsible for delivering babies, but they can handle all women’s healthcare needs, including general prenatal care. They can also conduct wellness exams and offer sexual health counseling.

Research programs and projects

Many FNPs may be interested in something other than treatment and care. If you are the same, you can focus on research. Organizations like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners provide opportunities and research fellowships to help nurse practitioners undertake research projects or be part of research programs.

Several colleges and universities also have research projects that FNPs can join. These projects receive grants that allow universities and colleges to hire FNPs to conduct research while working with patients who are part of the study groups.

Academia

If you check online or on-campus FNP programs, you will find that all facilitators and instructors are FNPs themselves. Hence, after completing your post-master FNP program, you can take up faculty positions in BSN or MSN programs.

You can be a tenured facilitator with a permanent position or take up an adjunct position where you teach students one or two days a week. Your work as an instructor could be to teach the program’s curriculum or supervise students in a clinical setting.

Private group practices

A private group practice can focus on a single practice or multiple specialties. Hence, depending on the private group practice you join, you will be offering a wide range of care as an FNP.

Today, many private group practices are not only offering primary care but also focusing on disease prevention and management of chronic conditions as that minimizes healthcare costs and improves patients’ quality of life. So, it can be an exciting opportunity to hone your skills and acquire further knowledge and expertise.

Outpatient centers

When the health condition is not critical and the patient does not need hospitalization, the diagnosis and treatment can be handled in an outpatient center. That hastens recovery as patients tend to be more comfortable and relaxed in their own homes.

Most outpatient centers require nurse practitioners, including FNPs, who can assist physicians in conducting minor procedures. Outpatient centers have regular business hours, allowing FNPs to be free in the evenings and on weekends. As a result, those striving for work-life balance will find working in outpatient centers quite appealing.

School clinics

Schools have clinics that provide primary care to students. Besides handling and treating students’ symptoms, school-based clinics also deal with mental health issues and counsel students who display risky behaviors.

Working in school clinics can be rewarding as FNPs help students in many ways. Furthermore, FNPs will be working based on when the school is open. For an FNP with other responsibilities or interests, this will leave adequate free time to pursue other things in life.

Public health clinics

Public health clinics play a major role in primary care in underserved communities. They make primary care more affordable and accessible. FNPs working in such clinics can handle primary care of the local communities and conduct wellness exams.

If the clinic provides specific care, a family nurse practitioner may handle the care needs of patients diagnosed with STDs, infectious diseases, and tuberculosis. Some public health clinics also work with addiction. So, this is another interesting and rewarding challenge that FNPs may find fulfilling.

Long-term care facilities

As stated earlier, FNPs receive comprehensive training and education when they are studying to become family nurse practitioners. Hence, they are capable of working in long-term care facilities, where patients require extended hospitalization and have complex care needs.

Since FNPs can work independently and alongside specialists, they are well-suited for long-term care. They liaise between patients and the care team, ensuring that patient needs are at the forefront and providing holistic care.

Physician’s office

In states or territories where FNPs have limited practice authority, they can work in physicians’ offices. FNPs can collaborate with physicians to provide primary care to patients. These family nurse practitioners provide the best quality care and ensure that patients get onto the road to recovery.

Or, if the condition requires specialized treatment and care, FNPs work with physicians to refer the patients to specialists who are better equipped to handle the needs of the patients.

Own private practice

As an FNP, you do not always have to work for someone else. You also have the option of establishing your own private practice. The services you can provide as an FNP depend on the state where you intend to practice. Hence, you should check this beforehand. The states and territories across the US are categorized as follows:

  • Full practice: If you start a private practice in a full-practice state, as an FNP, you will be able to assess, evaluate, and diagnose patients, request tests, manage their treatments, and prescribe medication.
  • Reduced practice: In such states, FNPs have a reduced ability to provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment to patients. Usually, they would have to collaborate with other healthcare providers to handle the healthcare needs of their patients.
  • Restricted practice: Some states in the US restrict the kind of care FNPs provide. In these states, FNPs must be supervised by a qualified and licensed healthcare provider when evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients. They may not be able to prescribe medicines in these states.

If you want to open your own private practice after completing your post-master FNP program, you must have a proper business plan. Furthermore, you should choose the business structure carefully, understand the different elements of operating a business, and learn the art of marketing your practice.

Remember, you will also need professional liability insurance to cover your practice.

International opportunities

FNPs do not have to restrict their work just in the US. They can also work overseas if they like. One of the best employers for overseas opportunities is the Bureau of Medical Services, a part of the US Department of State.

The branch is responsible for hiring nurse practitioners who handle the healthcare needs of diplomats and their families. As an FNP with the Bureau of Medical Services, you may periodically move to different countries, enabling you to travel the world without any problems.

You can also work with Doctors Without Borders. This organization works in poorer and less privileged nations and wants FNPs, who are responsible for training local nurses and healthcare providers.

A choice of work environments

If you don’t want to work in primary care, you don’t have to. FNPs can pick and choose their work environment depending on their preferences and expectations. As baby boomers in America are aging, the demand for healthcare is increasing.

Many Americans suffer from chronic diseases, which are more commonly found in older people. Coupled with the shortage of physicians, the demand for family nurse practitioners is likewise increasing. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has brought about changes in the healthcare system, and now the emphasis is on preventive care.

FNPs are well equipped to handle preventive care as they are trained for it.

However, the average salary for an FNP usually ranges between $106,450 and $124,620. Besides geographical location, other factors that impact the annual salary of an FNP are the years of experience that the FNP has, the care setting where the FNP chooses to work, and seniority.

FNPs in leadership or management roles tend to earn more than regular FNPs, and a post-master FNP degree can help you climb the hierarchy ladder.

As you can see, numerous avenues are available if you don’t want to work in the primary care setting after becoming a family nurse practitioner. The key is to figure out where you want to work and whether the place you choose will make you happy and satisfied and challenge you sufficiently to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge.

Once you know that, you will be able to enjoy greater autonomy and build long-term relationships with your patients. As an FNP, you will play a major role in influencing your patients’ overall health, which can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.