Why Become a Family Nurse Practitioner?
Don’t put off your MSN degree any longer. Get started today!
Help meet rising demand for primary care providers as an FNP.
There has never been a better time to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Demand for FNPs is on the rise: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of job openings for nurse practitioners will rise by 40% between 2020 and 2030, significantly faster than the 8% growth rate expected for all occupations over the same period. i
This increased demand is the result of several factors. First, new primary healthcare provision models such as express care clinics often rely on FNPs to coordinate healthcare for patients, particularly those without insurance. The nursing profession is also experiencing the same wave of retirements caused by the “graying” of the Baby Boom generation that is affecting all other professions, leading to more gaps for new FNPs to fill.
Additionally, the Affordable Care Act has led to millions of new insured patients, meaning that new primary care providers will be needed, especially since fewer physicians are choosing to work in general practice. FNPs can do much to meet the demand for primary care.
Finally, the personalized treatment, counseling, and education FNPs provide has led to their becoming preferred as a primary care provider by a rising number of patients.
The Benefits of Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner
So, why should you become a Family Nurse Practitioner? It’s simple: by becoming an FNP, you get more.
More Responsibility: FNPs have much more influence over the way their patients are treated. As an FNP, you’ll be qualified to provide counseling and education about your patients’ health conditions, develop treatment plans, monitor the health of their families, order tests, write prescriptions, make referrals, and more.
More Options: Earning your MSN and becoming an FNP gives you access to a wider variety of nursing occupations. Become a primary care provider within a hospital, nursing home, clinic, hospice, or school. In many states, you can also set up your own practice.
More Authority: Becoming an FNP enhances your qualifications for nursing leadership roles. This includes management positions, nurse educator roles, research positions, administrative, case management, and policy-related roles.
More Earning Potential: In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the median salary for nurse practitioners was $111,680.ii For RNs over the same period, the median salary was $68,450 iii – a difference of nearly 63%.
More Satisfaction: The autonomy, authority, and sense of value from your work means that being an FNP can be extremely satisfying. In fact, the 2020 Nurse Career Satisfaction Report found that 95% of nurse practitioners said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their main roles.iv
Begin Today
More autonomy, more impact on patient health, and more job satisfaction—if you’re ready to take the first step towards becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, Samuel Merritt University is ready to help you. Contact us today to learn how you can earn your Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner with us.
iii http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-5