Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is prepared as a generalist, principal provider of primary health care. In this clinician role, the FNP assumes responsibility for:
- promoting, maintaining, and restoring health to individuals across the life span
- identification of health risks
- promotion of wellness
- diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illness
FNPs also conduct research and provide leadership in mobilizing community and managed care services. They are prepared to work both independently and in collaboration with other health care professionals. Graduates are eligible for legal certification and prescriptive authority in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and professional certification offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Pass rate of the University of Pittsburgh FNP's is consistently 100% with score above the national average.
The FNP program offers both full-time and part-time study on the main campus in Pittsburgh and on the Bradford and Johnstown branch campuses. The 56 -credit curriculum is nationally ranked and serves as a model for FNP programs across the nation. The sequence of courses provides for a logical building of the clinical decision-making skill necessary to function as an FNP. Specifically, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health promotion are foundational, thus are required early in the program of study. Adult management courses follow the course in adult physical diagnosis. The pediatric and geriatric courses build upon what is learned about adults and focus on the developmental, diagnostic, and physiologic differences encountered in caring for these special populations. Culminating role and clinical practica are in the final term of study and are synthesizing experiences that prepare graduates for immediate employment as FNPs. By individualizing the program of study, students may subspecialize in pediatrics, geriatrics, women's health, school health or other areas. Employment opportunities for FNP's are plentiful across the nation. Most graduates work in ambulatory care settings such as:
- community health centers
- hospital outpatient departments
- employee health
- school and college health
- physician private practices
- health maintenance organizations
- specialty clinics
- nursing homes
- hospital inpatient
- emergency departments
- nurse practitioner managed practices
For more information please contact:
- Donna G. Nativio PhD, CRNP, FAAN
- Associate Professor
- Director of the Family/Adult/Pediatric and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Phone: 412-624-3827
- Email: dgn@pitt.edu