Family Nurse Practitioner Program in Iowa - IA

Towards the top of the allied health professional ladder are nurses known as advance practice nurses (APNs) or advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) with specialized training and skills. In Iowa, these professionals are most commonly known as advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). Nurse practitioner (NP) is the most popular field among Iowa ARNPs.

Nurse practitioners are further trained in specialty areas and population foci in accordance with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Among these, family nurse practitioner is by far the most practiced area by ARNPs. Based on a national sample survey of registered nurses conducted by a human resources services administration in 2008, 41.9% of nurse practitioners had family care as their advanced practice study focus and an estimated 20.4% of APRNs had a certification in family care.  The percentage of family nurse practitioners (FNPs) in Iowa rose from 32.3% in FY2006 to 36.5% in FY2010 according to the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Family nurse practitioner programs in Iowa are available in the university campuses, including the metropolitan areas of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport. For busy professionals as well as remote students, programs are also available online. The registered nurses working in Iowa’s most renowned hospitals including Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Saint Luke's Hospital, and Genesis Medical Center East can take advantage of these programs to pursue their advanced degree in pursuit of their FNP specialization.