Perspective article explores gaps in clinical education for family nurse practitioners, highlighting the need for standardized training and better oversight.
The demand for family nurse practitioners (FNPs) continues to rise, yet inconsistencies in clinical education have led to significant variability in graduate preparedness. The rapid expansion of FNP programs, particularly online, has outpaced the development of standardized clinical training, resulting in disparities in preceptor oversight, clinical hour requirements, and competency assessment. This perspective article examines current developments in FNP clinical education and highlights the need for a more structured approach. By strengthening entry requirements, implementing structured competency-based clinical rotations, and enhancing accreditation oversight, FNP programs can improve training consistency and better prepare graduates for independent practice. Establishing clearer clinical expectations and national standards is essential to sustaining the integrity of FNP education and ensuring that future practitioners are equipped to meet the growing complexities of healthcare.
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Nishikawa et al. (2025) studied this question.
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