Family nurse practitioner

Family nurse practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner Lt. Cmdr. Michael Service cares for a young girl at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka.
Occupation
Occupation type	profession
Activity sectors	advanced practice registered nurse, family medicine
Description
Education required	Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice
Related jobs	nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is a nurse practitioner who provides continuing and comprehensive healthcare for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and body systems. Primary care emphasises the holistic nature of health and it is based on knowledge of the patient in the context of the family and the community, emphasizing disease prevention and health promotion.

Education and board certification

Following educational preparation at the master's or doctoral level, FNPs must become board certified by an approved certification body. Board certification must be maintained by obtaining continuing nursing education credits. In the US, board certification is provided either through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (awards the FNP-BC credential) or through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners certification program (awards the NP-C credential).

Scope of practice

FNPs deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive healthcare services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they also provide preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests, and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. FNPs also manage chronic illness, often coordinating care provided by specialty physicians.

See also

• Advanced practice registered nurse
• Family medicine