An Inpatient Pilot Rotation for a Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Military Health
• Clinical Competency Development

Background:

• Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are increasingly serving in diverse clinical roles, including military inpatient settings.
• The Uniformed Services University's Graduate School of Nursing developed essential clinical competencies for Doctor of Nursing Practice FNP students' inpatient rotations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot an inpatient clinical rotation for Doctor of Nursing Practice FNP students.
• To develop and assess essential clinical competencies for military FNPs in inpatient settings.

Main Methods:

• The pilot involved FNP students from Air Force and Navy facilities undertaking 2-week rotations.
• Competency development was guided by the RIME (reporter, interpreter, manager, educator) framework.
• Students rotated alongside medical students and residents.

Main Results:

• Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, indicating increased confidence in clinical skills.
• Students demonstrated a deeper understanding of inpatient processes.
• A minimum rotation of 2 weeks was recommended to achieve competency goals.

Conclusions:

• The pilot successfully led to the codification of an inpatient rotation into the FNP curriculum.
• This initiative highlights the importance of inpatient experience for military FNPs.
• Enhanced inpatient training improves readiness for diverse military healthcare roles.