The demand for better health care services is constantly rising, promising greater job opportunities. As a post-baccalaureate registered nurse, you might be considering leveling up as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). However, choosing a master's degree or post-grad program can be confusing without adequate research.

If your interest is in delivering quality care to patients through specialized skills in a primary care setting, opting for an FNP program is a good idea. Various universities offer online MSN FNP programs (Masters of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner). Enrolling in one can help you prepare for an APRN license and develop your clinical techniques and knowledge for providing integrative care. Here are five reasons why you should choose MSN-FNP as your next big step:

Provides a Higher Level of Autonomy 

Advancing from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to MSN-FNP provides autonomy to practice and develop strong clinical and management skills. Depending on the state's practice guidelines, a nurse practitioner is more involved and can make essential patient-related decisions compared to a registered nurse. A family nurse practitioner has the authority to diagnose, treat and even provide counseling to the patients in their care. 

The work environment of FNPs enables them to practice independently without the supervision of a physician. This level of autonomy has played a vital role in filling the gap left by the shortage of primary care physicians. Since the nurse practitioner model mainly focuses on direct primary care, an FNP is allowed to:

• Maintain their patients' records

• Give the order for necessary diagnostic tests

• Prescribe treatments like medications and therapies

• Perform physical examinations and treat and manage injuries and illnesses 

Exposure to Patients of All Ages 

The main focus of the MSN-FNP program is providing quality healthcare services to individual patients and families. In turn, this structure of the APRN program generates exposure to patients of different ages. It allows an FNP to utilize research, advanced clinical skills, and theory knowledge to provide primary care to diverse populations.

As an FNP, you can diagnose and treat every patient, such as infants, children, adults, and even the elderly. This will enhance your ability to deal with different age-associated health conditions. 

Promises Higher Pay and Benefits

As family nurse practitioners are an ever-growing in-demand specialty, it creates opportunities for registered nurses to receive significantly better pay than BSN Registered Nurses. It is reported that an FNP earns around $116,510 annually on average, which is about $56 per hour and $9710 per month.

Even though this average annual pay can vary among states and with the level of experience, it is evident that MSN-FNP can secure you a high pay. Opting for the FNP career path also provides several perks and benefits, such as tuition reimbursement, health insurance, liability coverage, vacation pay, and 401K contributions. 

Enables Expansion of Practice

Other than dealing with individual patients, an FNP also works to educate the community about disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle. With an MSN-FNP degree, you can work in various health care settings such as private practice, university clinics, hospitals, community health centers, and more. In many rural areas where there is a shortage of physicians, family nurse practitioners take their role in providing health care services. 

The most significant perk of an MSN-FNP degree is that you can change your specialty from family practice to a different field. As the degree enables exposure to patients of all ages, you can shift your practice to fields like internal medicine, urgent care, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Iit allows you to expand your practice with time and helps refine your skills.

Flexible Scheduling 

Since many universities offer online MSN-FNP programs, it allows you to conveniently fit your studies with your daily routine. You can enroll in an online MSN-FNP degree and begin studying at any time at your own pace. The degree also allows you to continue with your full-time work in between studying, and the best part is it generally costs less compared to typical on-site degrees. 

Endnote

Opting for an MSN-FNP program for advanced practice can open better opportunities for you in the healthcare system. The FNP route will enable you to partake in leadership and refine your skills and knowledge. This will ensure you can provide top-quality care to your patients.