Family Nurse Practitioner Careers

The Importance of Nursing Work-Life Balance

You are committed to putting the needs of your patients first. You serve as advocates, counselors and frontline caregivers, while also juggling family and other commitments. Because your dedication to your patients — who are often in crisis — is unwavering, it is essential that you create a healthy work-life balance. 

When not at work, you likely try to accomplish as much as possible, which leaves little time to relax and recharge. But finding time to slow down and enjoy life is paramount to your overall health, as well as the health of your loved ones. 

A state of physical and mental exhaustion not only causes you to disconnect on the job, it also contributes to burnout, leaving you vulnerable to serious illness. For all nurses, lack of work-life balance leads to chronic stress, which in turn often results in anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches and even heart disease.

How Can You Achieve the Best Nursing Work-Life Balance?

Creating your work-life balance is a process — trying to do too much at once and failing can be discouraging. Here are some keys to developing a sustainable balance:

•    Create a personalized plan of small, reachable goals. For example, if you want to spend more time with your family, arrange to have dinner together one night a week instead of everyone eating in shifts.
•    Manage your time more efficiently. When creating your plan, take a look at how you are spending your time. If you browse social media a lot, unplugging for a while will free up time. There are endless time management apps that can help with time allotment.
•    Develop your support system. As a nurse, you likely perform better as part of a team. Adopt the same dynamic at home by connecting with mentors, loved ones and trusted friends.
•    Optimize your work schedule. Many nurses elect to work three 12-hour shifts a week, but after factoring commuting time, it’s important to understand if that schedule supports the nursing work-life balance you seek.

Career Opportunities for FNPs With a Master’s in Nursing

Acute Care Jobs

From minor injuries and low-grade symptoms that may improve on their own to complications of chronic diseases and life-threatening illnesses, FNPs handle a range of issues. Acute care jobs for nurse practitioners involve treating a patient for brief but often severe episodes resulting from chronic disease, injury and surgery.

Primary Care Jobs

Serving as a primary care provider means caring for your patients over their lifespan. Family nurse practitioners assess, diagnose and develop treatments for patients of all ages. Overarching all these functions is a vital aspect of primary care jobs: educating, counseling and advocating for patients.

Additional Career Choices for FNPs

Career options for nurse practitioners have grown immensely, with opportunities beyond the clinical setting that also offer nursing work-life balance. 
Aside from primary care jobs and acute care jobs, FNPs work as educators, community advocates, research scientists and legislative activists.

Fast Facts About Family Nurse Practitioners

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners:

1.    FNPs average nearly a decade of experience.
2.    The top clinical focus areas for nurse practitioners are family, primary care and urgent care.
3.    The top practice settings for FNPs are outpatient clinics, private group practices and private physician’s offices.
4.    FNPs have numerous options to work independently and in holistic collaboration with other practitioners.

Salaries for Primary Care Jobs and Acute Care Jobs as an FNP

The BLS reports $123,780 as the national median salary for primary care jobs and acute care jobs for candidates with a master’s in nursing.

Building Your Nursing Work-Life Balance Begins With Neumann University’s Nursing Programs

For over 20 years, Neumann University has been offering rigorous academic nursing programs. Our exceptional faculty members, who understand the importance of nursing work-life balance, will guide you through the comprehensive academics and clinical experience you need to succeed as an FNP.

A master’s in nursing from Neumann University means developing the advanced skills to provide evidence-based wellness care, disease prevention solutions and effective treatment strategies. All of our Master’s of Science in Nursing programs are offered 100 percent online, allowing you the flexibility to maintain a healthy nursing work-life-school balance.

In addition, all our academic programs are rooted in our Catholic Franciscan tradition, and guided by the University’s core values of Reverence, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship. As a Neumann’s student, you’ll engage in an environment that encourages character development and supports spiritual practice.

NU’s nursing Master of Science in Nursing programs include three options:
•    Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 
•    Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 
•    Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner

If you already have a master’s in nursing degree, we offer a post-master’s certificate in all of our nursing programs.

Are you ready to take the next step to advance your nursing career? Request more information about enrolling in Neumann University’s nursing program.