Tennessee Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
With dedication to an advanced graduate nursing degree, a family nurse practitioner (FNP) in Tennessee may enjoy numerous opportunities and beneficial positions in clinical or non-traditional settings. Although the majority of FNPs work alongside physicians in private practice, the shortage of primary care physicians, new healthcare reform for over 600,000 uninsured Tennesseans and a fast-growing population of people over 65 years of age has prompted a high demand for FNPs to practice in nurse-based clinics, rural health settings and retail healthcare settings.
According to Knoxnews.com, nurse practitioners in Tennessee charged for more Medicare services than in any other state in the country and are vital to the delivery of primary care. Although FNPs are required to prescribe medications with the collaboration of a physician, FNPs in Tennessee do have the medical authority to diagnose and treat illness for acute and chronic disease, promote preventative health and provide effective follow up care for their patients of all ages.
The Tennessee Nurse Practitioners Association supports the recommendations by the National Governors Association and strives to provide legislation that grants FNPs of Tennessee to practice with full authority.
To learn more about how you can transform both your career and your education, check into the Family Nurse Pracititioner programs on this page. You can request information from any of those that interest you and start compiling information to help you decide on the school that may be best for you.
Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum in Tennessee
Tennessee requires nurses to complete a state-approved graduate nurse practitioner program that supports a specialty in family health. As a licensed registered nurse, you may have numerous options to satisfy the educational component and attend classes that are designed for working professionals in full or part time programs such as:
• RN to FNP graduate program
• BSN to master’s degree FNP program
• MSN to postgraduate or doctorate program for FNPs
• Non-nursing degree to FNP master’s degree
Post graduation, candidates are required to pass a national certification examination with a specialty in family health to obtain credentials as an FNP with the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum in Tennessee
Your graduate program prepares you to practice with full authority in Tennessee. With critical analysis of nursing research and theories, FNPs are provided a strong foundation for performing diagnosis, treatment and management of drug therapy for patients of all ages. Advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology and health assessment skills are integrated into your program to provide identification of acute illness, management of chronic disease and the application of health interventions within your scope of practice.
Courses in your curriculum may include subjects such as:
• Foundations for the role of the FNP include the navigation of the healthcare system for financial, ethical and essential considerations in patient treatment
• Advanced health assessment for the lifespan explores the treatment of common illnesses and conditions that occur in patients of all ages
• Advanced practice of children and adults in primary care discusses diagnostic reasoning, treatment protocols and drug therapy
• Principles of advanced nursing research provide treatment rationale, preventative care approaches and evidence-based care for individuals, families and communities
• Fundamentals of clinical practice provides actual patient care in medical settings
Depending on your FNP program of study, licensed nurses with a BSN degree generally complete the graduate program in two to three years of full time study. As a graduate, FNPs enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician as outlined by the Tennessee State Board of Medical Examiners.
Financing your Family Nurse Practitioner Program in Tennessee
As FNPs are needed to provide care in rural health and areas that are medically underserved, Tennessee offers the Health Incentive Access Program that grants funds to provide tuition, living expenses and other financial obligations incurred as a student. In addition, NurseCorps offers federal funds for tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness and financial aid to students and graduates of nurse practitioner programs.
Family Nurse Practitioner Careers in Tennessee
As a graduate FNP, you may find exceptional opportunities in primary care, medical research or retail care. In a recent report by the Huffington Post, the role of nurse practitioners is evolving quickly and practice opportunities are moving into limitless areas of care. FNPs are entering fields of cutting-edge medical applications and finding their niche, as reported by the Memphis Daily News.
FNPs are skilled diagnosticians that may practice in positions such as:
- Physician offices and medical groups
- Pharmaceutical and nursing research
- Educators in facilities of higher learning
- Children’s hospitals, medical centers and urgent care settings
- Occupational health for Fortune 500 Companies
According to the Bureau of Statistics in 2012, FNPs in Tennessee may enjoy a median annual salary of $88,720. With an array of opportunities and lucrative positions, your FNP degree may provide a rewarding and challenging career that offers the self-satisfaction and fulfillment of caring for your community.
