Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner specialty prepares nurses for the challenges of advanced nursing practice in diversified settings. Graduates assume responsibility for assessment and management of a broad range of health needs of individuals and families across the life span. The program has a strong community-based primary care focus. More than 40 community-based sites and private practices provide students with a rich variety of primary health care experiences with clients of all ages. Students have the opportunity to do rotations in specialty areas such as endocrinology, cardiology, nephrology, and emergency room care. Clinical sites include public health departments, hospital outpatient and satellite clinics, HMO clinics, community primary healthcare centers, emergency departments, health clinics for the homeless as well as private practice. Graduates are prepared to sit for the certification exam of the American Nurse Credentialing Center or the certification exam of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
One of the common misconceptions about bioethics is that it is all about the “sensational” issues – termination of mechanical ventilation, cloning human beings, etc. In fact, the most troubling ethical issues often arise in the course of mundane care: care that is provided routinely throughout the course of a patient’s life. For example: what are the provider’s obligations when a patient discloses intent to harm a third party? What are the ethical considerations in evaluating a patient’s failure to adhere to a prescribed therapy? It is critical that students learn the skills necessary to identify, address, and assess ethical issues as they arise in the daily care they will provide to patients. Participating in the dual degree program will enable Family Nurse Practitioners to be better prepared for these challenges.
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