How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

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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.

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.

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:

Wondering how to become a family nurse practitioner? Here are the key steps you’ll need to take:

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.

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.

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.

Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed March 19, 2024.