You’ve gotten your FNP degree, passed your board exam, and are ready to start looking for jobs, but where do you start? Or maybe you’re a registered nurse, and you’re unsure if becoming a nurse practitioner is right for you or what specialty you’d like to do. You’ve been told FNPs work in primary care throughout school, but is that the only option you have? 

FNPs can work anywhere from hospitals, specialty clinics, urgent care, and MORE. In this article, we’ll discuss a few examples of this and what you can do with your FNP degree in the world of healthcare. You don’t have to be pigeonholed into the primary care world if you don’t want to.

So what is an FNP? An FNP is a family nurse practitioner. FNP is a subtype of the overall career of the nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who serve as leaders in healthcare. They work more closely with medical doctors (MD) to diagnose and treat their patients, which differs from a nurse who implements the treatment plan. An FNP works in family medicine. This is a general term that can 

include almost everyone and every type of patient, disease, and more.


FNPs work with various patients throughout their entire lifespan, including newborns, the elderly, adults with chronic disease, pregnant people, and everyone in between. Because of this training, 

Primary care is the most common (https://www.aanp.org/about/all-about-nps/np-fact-sheet) place where FNPs work. It involves serving your patients as their primary care provider and working with all types of patients, of all ages. While this is the most commonplace for FNPs to work, 

While there are many settings FNPs can work in, here are a few of the most favored places.

FNPs are qualified to work in specialties because of their broad training through their FNP programs, unlike, for example, a pediatric nurse practitioner or women’s health nurse practitioner. Specialties (https://www.nursingprocess.org/nurse-practitioner-specialties.html) that employ nurse practitioners include:

Some specialties may require special certifications before you start working there, but often, the offices or organizations will offer that training to you to complement your FNP training. This will get you working as soon as possible.

Hospitals, emergency rooms, and urgent cares

Half of the NPs certified in 2021 reported having at least some hospital privileges, and 50,000 NPs work full-time in the hospital (https://journals.lww.com/aenjournal/fulltext/2015/10000/family_nurse_practitioner_or_acute_care_nurse.1.aspx). 12,000 NPs work full-time in the emergency room (ER) and 9,000 in urgent care. Other hospital areas where NPs work include individual units like the medical-surgical unit, the telemetry unit, or even specialized units, like labor and delivery or pediatrics.

Whether on a medical-surgical floor or in the ER, or in urgent care, 

inpatient practice is a growing and fulfilling specialty that FNPs can work in after graduating.

While there is a pediatric nurse practitioner specialty degree, FNPs can also work in private practice and general pediatrics. Even FNPs who don’t work in pediatrics full time reported seeing pediatric patients regularly. 

 (https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/126/5/861/65221/Family-Nurse-Practitioners-Roles-and-Scope-of?redirectedFrom=fulltext)

 of FNPs see pediatric patients every day they work in family practice.

 This shows that FNPs can care for pediatrics and do so well! They can also work in pediatric specialties like pediatric gastroenterology or cardiology. These areas focus on chronic or acute conditions common in the pediatric scope like congenital heart defects, all of which FNPs can manage.

There is also a women’s health nurse practitioner specialty degree – but FNPs work in women’s health, obstetrics, and gynecology. While they don’t usually deliver babies, 

they can provide general prenatal care and women’s health care

 such as well-women’s exams, sexual health counseling, and more. FNPs working in primary care will often see many of these women and these concerns as well.

NPs and FNPs can also work in research or on research projects, especially for NP-specific research. Organizations (https://www.aanp.org/about/research-opportunities) such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 

offer research fellowships and opportunities that can help break into these roles. 

Colleges and universities often also have research projects. These projects can be funded by grants that employ healthcare workers such as FNPs to conduct research, work with the patients involved in the study, and more.

All faculty in FNPs programs are FNPs themselves, so FNP faculty positions are always an option. FNPs can also serve as faculty in bachelor’s programs or master’s programs for nurses or other nurse practitioners. These can be full-time or part-time, 

otherwise known as adjunct positions where you teach one or two days a week.

 It can involve a didactic curriculum or supervising students in the clinical setting.

Now that you can see the number of different places FNPs work, are you ready to start your journey? There are endless opportunities for FNPs, whether you are a nurse thinking about FNP school or a new FNP trying to get your first job. Check out United States University’s FNP program (https://www.usuniversity.edu/degrees/master-of-science-in-nursing-family-nurse-practitioner)today!

, nurse coach, and nurse content writer who specializes in articles, guest blogger, and healthcare worker wellness. She has been in nursing since 2014, working in intensive care, women’s health, and primary care as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. Her specialty topics include mental health, health and wellness, yoga philosophy and practice, and community health. She also serves as a health coach and mentor to other nurses and healthcare workers concerning healthy lifestyles and mental health.

Where Can FNPs Work, Besides Primary Care? 

 does it ever feel like you wear too many hats? Have you wanted to narrow it down to one? After working hard to earn your degree, the idea of specializing may bring back memories of APA papers and endless clinical hours. With your broad range of skills, you have the ability to specialize without going back through NP school.

As an FNP, you treat a variety of conditions daily. Your work is all about promoting health in a primary care setting. But, as part of a comprehensive health assessment, FNPs address the psychosocial needs of their patients as well. With the amount of psychiatric-mental health (PMH) crossover in the primary care setting, you might ask:

Can an FNP work as a psychiatric-mental health practitioner?

We discuss how FNPs can leverage their knowledge of the psychosocial needs of patients to treat PMH conditions in a more formal setting. Find out how furthering your education will improve your practice – and may be less of a hassle than you think.

Psychiatric-mental health registered nurses and advanced practice nurses identify and treat mental health issues and disorders.

 is to partner with patients and establish a trusting relationship during their treatment. PMH nurses help patients achieve their wellness goals by providing patient education and creating a safe space as they work toward recovery.


Psychiatric-mental health nurses may care for patients with:

Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) function in an advanced practice role to oversee clinical treatment for their patients. As a PMHNP, your duties may include:

Diagnosing psychiatric illness on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5)

Advanced practice PMH nurses may also perform crisis 

and stabilization. Working within a multidisciplinary team, PMHNPs are essential in care coordination and collaborating on action plans to 

provide best-practice care for their patients.

How can family nurse practitioners work in psychiatry?

Family nurse practitioners may work in private practice or retail clinics and hospitals in primary care settings. While FNPs provide mental health counseling and treatment, their primary focus is on a patient’s broader health picture. As part of their health assessment, FNPs may evaluate a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) score to screen for and measure the severity of depression.

A family nurse practitioner may provide counseling and prescribe medical treatment for patients suffering from depression. However, if a patient requires a higher level of psychiatric care, an FNP may refer to a psychiatric 

If an FNP is interested in providing more in-depth psychiatric-mental health care to patients, they will need specialized training. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners recommends obtaining 

 for psychiatric-mental health nursing care across the lifespan. This will allow a nurse practitioner to treat patients in prisons, psychiatric facilities, public health facilities, opioid treatment centers, or telemedicine practice.

Healthcare providers in the U.S. have already begun treating patients experiencing health challenges from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether a patient is experiencing mental health challenges like grief and burnout or new physical conditions, 

nurse practitioners are in high demand to meet the needs of increasing patient volumes.

If you’re interested in becoming a PMHNP, the statistics are in your favor for finding employment. According to the 

, the outlook for nurse practitioners is projected to grow by 45% between now and 2030. During the same timeframe, the BLS projects employment growth for 

 of 12.5%, creating a need for 3,500 additional providers.

In addition to job security, as a nurse practitioner, you may be interested in specializing in mental health in exchange for a comfortable income. According to 

, the average salary for PMHNPs is $111,010.

How to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner with an FNP degree.

If you already have an FNP degree and are interested in specializing in psychiatric-mental health nursing, you have a few options to further your education.

psychiatric-mental health nursing certified

 by taking a competency-based exam. As a nurse practitioner, this may help supplement your knowledge of psychiatric care for your primary care patients.

However, to become board certified in PMH as an advanced practice nurse, you must take the 

Psychiatric-Mental Health Board Certification Exam

. The prerequisites for this exam are 500 hours of clinical experience as a PMHNP in addition to specialized education.

Nurse practitioners have the option to obtain a PMHNP post-master’s certificate. This will allow you to complete a PMHNP degree and become board certified in significantly less time than starting over in nursing education. Like an FNP board certification, a PMHNP license needs to be renewed every five years

Make your next career move at United States University

As a family nurse practitioner, you are already providing mental health care to your patients in a meaningful way. If psychiatric-mental health nursing is of interest to you, consider furthering your education and becoming a 

To learn more about earning your FNP, check out United States University’s FNP 

Can an FNP Work in Psych? Your Career Guide

You’ve finally finished getting your nurse practitioner degree. So what do you do next?

After you graduate and get your license, it’s time to decide where you’ll work. And choosing where to work can be tricky, especially for a family nurse practitioner's (FNP) broad scope of practice. Some people think you can only work in primary care as an FNP, but that’s not true.

FNPs work in various settings including private practices, clinics, and even hospitals. Almost half of the NPs certified as of 2021 reported having at least some hospital privileges. And nearly 50,000 NPs work full-time in the 

, while 12,000 NPs work full-time in the emergency room (ER).

Whether on a medical-surgical floor or in the ER, inpatient practice is a growing and fulfilling specialty that FNPs can work in after graduating. But how? Do FNPs learn enough in school to work in such an acute setting?

Let’s explore these questions and the journey from FNP to working in the hospital!

 in the hospital or the ER is very different from family practice. ER NPs usually work odd hours and have different start times, such as 6 pm until 2 am, not just regular night shift hours as registered nurses do.

How the rest of the workday goes really depends on how busy the ER or hospital unit is. Most hospital providers will round individually on their patients, either admitted or those in triage, doing their assessments and ordering testing. Later in the shift, they will make their rounds with the full team, including the attending physician. When working in the ER, NPs must be prepared to see a wide variety of different complaints and patients of all ages.

NPs often work as part of a team with other providers, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers like social workers in the hospital setting. This makes it a supportive and multidisciplinary environment that many FNPs describe as a great learning experience. But, how do you make the transition to the hospital or ER as an FNP successfully?

How to transition to the hospital as an FNP

In FNP school, students are given a broad overview of practically everything that can occur in medicine including things like diabetes management, women’s health, pregnancy care, pediatrics, and care for the elderly. They have to be responsible for a lot in primary care, which is still the most common area of employment for FNPs.

Most hospitals and ERs don’t require separate certifications or any other special requirements other than the FNP degree. Many, however, do require an ER certificate or special training. While there are no set requirements for becoming a hospital NP, there are a few steps that can help you get there!

Most NP degree programs will require a BSN as well as an associate’s degree. So starting with a BSN is an important first step!

2. Gain experience in hospital or emergency room nursing

After you get your BSN, it’s a great time to start your hospital career. You can begin on a medical-surgical unit to get your feet wet or go straight to the ER, whichever works best for you. Get a few years of experience in this area to know how the hospital functions and what kind of patients you’ll be seeing in the future.

This can be a master's degree or a doctoral degree. Try to get some of your clinical hours in with a hospitalist or ER provider during this time. Some continue to work during school while others don’t but try to work somewhere in the hospital or in the ER if you do.

, so look into this before applying for jobs. There are multiple different certifications that FNPs and other NPs can get in emergency and acute inpatient care. This can involve a certificate program through a university, like a separate degree or a continuing education program. This will often include a fellowship program with the hospital and the ER to give you something similar to a residency.

Once your certification education is complete, you can apply for the Emergency Nurse Practitioner Exam to officially gain your certification and start applying for jobs.

If you’ve been working in the hospital or have some clinicals with a hospitalist or ER provider, start connecting with them, letting them know you’re an FNP now and looking for work. See what jobs they have and start applying.

How to find a hospital or ER job as an FNP

Here are a few tips on finding a hospital or emergency room NP job:

Make connections with hospitalists or ER providers and managers

Work in the hospital or ER as a registered nurse

Do some clinical with a hospitalist or in the ER

Reach out to local organizations of ER providers to network

So, you’ve decided you want to work as a hospital or ER NP. What’s that going to look like over the next few years?

 for a full-time ER NP was $130,000, some as high as $170,000. It’s predicted that the need for hospital providers will only increase over the next few years, and they have been essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital care is one of the more stable career paths and an excellent option for FNPs!

Finding an FNP job in an acute isn’t easy, but becoming more and more common. So start your hospital or ER career today, even as an FNP!

Alison Shely, DNP, FNP-C is a nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and nurse content writer who specializes in articles, guest blogger, and healthcare worker wellness. She has been in nursing since 2014, working in intensive care, women’s health, and primary care as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. Her specialty topics include mental health, health and wellness, yoga philosophy and practice, and community health. She also serves as a health coach and mentor to other nurses and healthcare workers concerning healthy lifestyles and mental health.

Can FNPs Work in the Hospital? Your 2022 Guide

In the last several decades, nurse practitioners (NPs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) serving in numerous specialty areas have come into their own as valuable and highly respected contributing members of the healthcare system. Roles such as 

, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), and other APRNs all contribute to making comprehensive patient care much more robust, diversified, and accessible.

Nurse practitioners are now integral to delivering high-quality care to millions of Americans across the lifespan. According to the 

, nurse practitioners are projected to see 45% job growth between 2020 and 2030 (an average of 29,400 new jobs per year), an average annual salary of $117,670, and an average hourly rate of $56.57.

While some FNPs focus on treating patients from babies to the elderly, others choose to focus on a specialty of significant interest. Many FNPs can provide important women’s health care based on their education and training, with FNPs hired by OB/GYNs to contribute to care provided in busy practice environments. Some may seek a post-master’s certificate to become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHMP).

Some female patients wish to utilize an FNP for their general health while having a separate relationship with a women’s health specialist; some may choose to receive most of their ongoing comprehensive care from their FNP. In this way, a family nurse practitioner working in a group medical practice or public or private health clinic may have the privilege of treating such women and members of their extended families.


The trust given by the provision of such care could result in the FNP attending to the medical care of an entire family; in such a scenario, the FNP may:

Refer grandma for a breast MRI to check on potential abnormalities in dense breasts for which a mammogram is insufficient

See the men and male children for health maintenance and urgent medical needs

Provide annual gyn and breast exams for female members of the family with children and grandchildren of their own

Refer a pregnant teenage girl for prenatal care due to a high-risk pregnancy, subsequently doing well-baby checks and post-natal gynecological exams following a successful delivery

Perform the first gynecological exams for three adolescent girls, as well as provide family planning, breast self-examination instruction, advice on sexual and dating safety, IUD fittings, and condoms

Educate adolescent males on general health maintenance, sexual health, STI prevention, and testicular self-examination

The provision of robust multigenerational care across the lifespan — including women’s health — is rightfully within the scope of practice of a family nurse practitioner, even without the above-referenced post-master’s certificate in women’s health. Such multigenerational holistic care could certainly lend itself to a high level of personal and professional satisfaction for a dedicated FNP, not to mention loyalty and gratitude from patients and their families.

The earnest nurse may want to consider that being a family nurse practitioner with extensive training and experience in women’s health can provide broader career opportunities due to the FNP’s ability to treat patients across the lifespan. 

One cannot overlook the powerful ability of the FNP to address the concerns of most any patient who enters their exam room, a fact that is unlikely to be overlooked by potential employers. And the addition of a post-master’s WHMP certificate may be professionally beneficial for an experienced FNP interested in women’s health and seeking increased credibility and marketability.



 the other hand, a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program may be attractive for some nurses in terms of its clinical focus. Without the FNP credential, said nurse would be limited to solely applying for positions in the women’s health sphere.
If the Bureau of Labor Statistics is correct, the demand for nurse practitioners of all stripes is unlikely to decline in the decades to come. Whether following a course of single-minded focus on women’s health or becoming an FNP with extensive training and experience in women’s health, the forward-thinking, clinically astute nurse’s career possibilities are virtually unlimited.

can an fnp work in womens health ultrasound


Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC is a nurse, holistic career coach (http://nursekeith.com), writer, podcaster, and keynote speaker. Keith has conducted more than 2,000 coaching sessions with nurses from all walks of life, and his podcast, The Nurse Keith Show (https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/10246967/6386928348342769012), reaches nurses throughout the world with fascinating interviews and messages of inspiration and career strategy. He lives and works in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Can an FNP Work in Women’s Health? Find out Here.

More and more nurses are choosing to advance their education and become nurse practitioners as a way to expand their role and scope of practice. Getting a job as a family nurse practitioner (FNP)  presents many options and opportunities. As with many aspects of nursing, having your FNP gives you incredible flexibility to work in multiple different outpatient settings.

Overview: How To Work As A Family Nurse Practitioner In Pediatrics

 can work in pediatrics is absolutely. As an FNP you will receive both didactic and clinical training on the entire lifespan, from children to geriatrics. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, if you are interested in pediatrics your best bet is working for a private practice in a physician’s office, where the majority of NPs work according to the 

Questions to ask yourself if you are considering an FNP job in pediatrics:

 It’s not impossible to get hired without experience but it will definitely help your resume to stand out.

Were your clinical rotations during your degree program in a setting similar to what you are applying for? 

If so, make sure you capitalize on that experience. Network, ask questions, and treat each day like a potential job interview.

This can be a challenging role simply due to the variability and diversity of age ranges. A nine-month-old’s physiology will be very different than a 17 year old.

Do you have nursing experience in pediatrics?

 If you’ve never worked in pediatrics before, be sure to ask about what your training will look like. You should also expect to do a fair amount of studying at home. You may be thinking, but I'm done with school! True, but your FNP program only exposed you to pediatrics, but will not be a comprehensive course of study. As with any job, you will learn as you go.


Where can you work if you want a job as a family nurse practitioner in pediatrics?

It’s important to understand the difference between a family nurse practitioner and a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner. Regulations and licensing are getting more strict on which settings FNPs and ACNPs can work in. For this reason, the NP role is becoming more and more specialized based on your specific program. In that way, an FNP is most like a primary care physician - someone who can care for an individual at any point in their life, and generally, this is an outpatient role. Some hospitals will hire FNPs to work in acute care settings depending on that nurse’s clinical experience prior to becoming an NP, but those opportunities are becoming increasingly rare.

Nurse Practitioners can expect to earn an average of about $114,700 per year according to 

, although it can vary significantly from state to state. You can earn the highest salary in California, New Jersey and Washington but there are many other states where FNP’s 

. Depending on the environment you work in, you may be paid a salary (in a doctor’s office) or hourly (in an outpatient clinic).

It’s no secret there are many high paying NP jobs available and just as many programs ready to educate you and help you pass your licensing exams. More and more, primary care physicians and pediatricians are looking to bring on nurse practitioners to help with seeing patients and keep their practice running smoothly. With so many outpatient settings, having your family nurse practitioner license gives you the ability to work in many different environments and a wide range of patients, including pediatrics.

Alex lives in Southern California and has spent her decade-long nursing career in cardiac critical care and loves all things heart related. She’s currently a pediatric ICU nurse in Los Angeles and has worked in both adult and pediatric cardiac surgery as well as the cardiac cath lab. After getting her degree in immunology and genetics from UCLA, she studied nursing at Mount St. Mary’s University. As a mom to five in her blended family and married to her firefighter husband, her house is generally chaotic. When not at the hospital Alex loves traveling with her family, surfing and doing her kids’ laundry.

Trailblazers Tags: MSN-FNP

Where Can FNPs Work, Besides Primary Care?

Can an FNP Work in Psych? Your Career Guide

Can FNPs Work in the Hospital? Your 2022 Guide

Can an FNP Work in Women’s Health? Find out Here.

Can Family Nurse Practitioners Work In Pediatrics?