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Family Nurse Specialist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewThe general health and well-being of families is important to the general health and well-being of any community and thus a primary concern of the healthcare service. Non-critical patients are, however, diagnosed and treated outside of hospitals. They are treated at home, at general clinics, at health centers, and at specialist centers.
Also in the interest of the healthcare service are cutbacks on expenses and the reduction of time physicians spend dealing with cases. Nurses are taking on more and more responsibilities and increasingly filling the role of physicians in providing general care to patients.
Family Nurse Specialists have a very substantial role to play in maintaining and improving the health of a community and their role looks set to expand. Family Nurse Specialists are Clinical Nursing Specialists who are trained in general medicine, in diagnostic procedures, in treatments, in treatment management, in education, and in research that relates to people of all ages and backgrounds.
They have experience in pediatric, adult, and geriatric medicine. Although it varies by state, many Family Nurse Specialists operate without direct supervision from physicians, they prescribe medication, and treatment with considerable autonomy and may have prominent roles in the administration and education of community health.
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Career RequirementsFamily Nurse Specialists are required to train as Clinical Nursing Specialists prior to completing any advanced training in the field. They are required to have some advanced training in the nursing field. Most Clinical Nursing Specialists have advanced degrees. Approximately 93% of all CNSs have a Master's Degree or equivalent graduate certificate to compliment their training as an RN.
Family Nurse Specialists are required to have an active RN license and typically have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing to have obtained this qualification. An active license of a Registered Nurse is also required for Family Nurse Specialist to practice in the field.
Specialist training in general medicine is requirement for this profession, typically met by the practical experience of each candidate. Experience is focused on dealing with general medical conditions, including illnesses and injuries that affect children and adults.
Some institutions offer specialist training programs and certification for family nurse specialists. More information about training programs and certification is available through the following organization:
American Nurses Credentialing Center
600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 100 West
Washington, D.C. 20024-2571
(800) 284-2378
Nursingworld.org
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Job OutlookFamily practices look set to become the pivotal center for medical practice in the future. As nursing becomes one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, so the role of nurses, as intermediaries between patients and physicians, will become increasingly pronounced.
In the next decade, nursing will be one of the top 10 fastest growing professions in the United States according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health care facilities will be looking to cut back on general costs so clinical nurse specialists may become the preferred alternative to more specialized medical professionals.
The future looks bright in the nursing field, with the number of jobs for registered nurses expected to increase at a rate far greater than that of most other jobs in the next couple of years.
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Career TrackSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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CompensationSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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