Are you considering a career as a family nurse practitioner? Firstly we applaud you, becoming a FNP is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding careers out there. We need more people like you in the world. Secondly, becoming an FNP is a big decision. So before investing time and money getting your qualification, it may be helpful to learn more about the profession. With this in mind, here are 7 ideal career choices for Family Nurse Practitioners.
PEDIATRIC NURSING
If you love kids, put your hard-earned FNP qualifications to good use in a pediatric hospital. You’ll be able to devote your knowledge and skills to caring for children. But before doing so (if you’re working in the states) register with the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. It’s the most recognised and respected credential for pediatric nurses. This certificate can increase your confidence, professional credibility and chances for advancement.
MIDWIFE NURSING
If you love infants and want to help bring them into this world, a career as a midwife may be perfect for you. Your duties will include caring for both the mother and the baby before, during, and after delivery. But to transition from being an FNP to a nurse midwife, you need a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery after enrolling in a program like the Simmons FNP program.
NEONATAL NURSING
Your work will deal mainly with prematurely-born infants in intensive care. You’ll have an important role, not only caring for small babies, but also supporting the parents of the baby. Premature babies usually have very specific problems, including respiratory difficulties and nutritional needs that are often life threatening.
GERIATRIC NURSING
Instead of working with infants and kids, maybe you’d rather work at the other end of the spectrum – that is, with seniors. If so, consider working as a geriatric nurse. Among other things, you’ll help elderly patients deal with chronic illnesses related to old age, such as dementia or arthritis. And you’ll do so either at their homes or in a hospital.
CHRONIC PAIN NURSING
Speaking of chronic illnesses, maybe you want to deal exclusively with patients afflicted by such illnesses. Then, the right career for you is working as a chronic pain nurse. As one, you’ll improve the life of the chronically ill, a very fulfilling career.
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing is a very specialised area. You’ll need to receive specific training for this type of nursing. Jobs include building relationships with, reassuring, listening and talking to patients, and assessing and planning nursing care requirements to name a few.
ADVOCACY NURSING
All the above nursing disciplines deal with an illness of some sort. But what happens if you don’t want to directly deal with illnesses? Not that you don’t care about your patients. Instead, you want to represent their interests and that of their families. In such a case, you have two options. The first is joining an advocacy group. Or, better still, you can opt for the second option and become a nurse advocate. Your job description will involve representing your patients’ and their families’ interests to hospitals and healthcare workers.
As a result, you need extra qualifications for this job. This means studying financial and social matters regarding healthcare.