Interview a Practicing Nurse Practitioner

The APRN Interview Assignment provides graduate nursing students in advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) programs – particularly those pursuing nurse practitioner (NP) roles; an opportunity to engage directly with a practicing APRN. This structured interview explores professional development, daily practice realities, scope of practice variations, and alignment with core competencies. Many U.S. nursing programs, especially at the MSN or DNP level, require this type of assignment to bridge theory and practice while fostering networking for potential preceptorships.

Assignment Overview

Purpose This assignment allows you to gain insight into the real-world experiences of an APRN in your specialty track (e.g., Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology, Psychiatric-Mental Health). It emphasizes professional issues, practice challenges, and competencies outlined by organizations such as the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Guidelines Contact an APRN who has practiced for at least one year in your specialty. Schedule a one-on-one interview (ideally face-to-face, but virtual or telephone options are acceptable). Plan for 30–60 minutes. The interview should be conversational with follow-up questions for clarification, not a rigid Q&A. You may share questions in advance as a courtesy. Conduct the interview yourself; written responses from the interviewee are not permitted.

Required Components

• Ask all eight required questions.
• Select and ask at least six additional questions from the provided list (for a minimum total of 14).
• Include any relevant follow-up questions asked during the interview (aim for at least four across responses for depth).
• Format the write-up in a Word document: Number each question, state the question, summarize the response below it, and include any follow-up questions/responses under the same number.

Introductory Paragraph Include:

• Date and location (or format) of the interview
• Name of the APRN (or initials if preferred for privacy)
• Specialty track
• Years in practice
• Practice location
• Patient ages seen
• Average daily patients
• Number of providers in the group/practice
• Number of examination rooms (if applicable)
• On-site laboratory and x-ray capabilities

Self-Reflection At the end, provide an in-depth self-reflection and critical analysis (1–2 pages recommended). Discuss what you found valuable, any surprising responses and why, and how the experience informs your professional growth as a future APRN.

Formatting and Submission Use APA format: title page, running head, page numbers. Include a reference page (e.g., NONPF competencies, health promotion theories cited). Personal communications (interview) do not require in-text citations beyond the introduction or listing on the reference page. Submit via the assignment portal by the due date.

Required Questions

1. Discuss how you became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner (or CNM) and what university did you attend?
2. In keeping up to date with current information regarding guidelines, political issues, etc., what conferences do you attend and which professional organizations have you joined?
3. At your practice site, what are your most common reference sources used for daily decision making? What resources would you recommend a new APRN utilize in the practice setting?
4. Identify and describe your personal scope of practice as compared to your professional scope of practice. What are the differences? (For example, some FNPs perform joint injections, toenail removal, etc., which is within the professional scope but not all do.)
5. What is your biggest challenge professionally as a NP?
6. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties has developed competencies for nurse practitioners as a whole and population-specific competencies (except for certain roles like midwifery). Which three competencies do you feel you best meet in your practice? (Refer to the NONPF list during the interview.)
7. What type of theory or model do you utilize in promoting health-promoting behaviors such as diet, exercise, smoking cessation, etc.? (Refer to a list of health promotion/behavior change theories.)
8. What qualities do you believe are most important to the success of a NP?

Additional Questions (Select at Least Six)

• How does your current NP practice compare to what you had envisioned as a student?
• What is your biggest challenge as an NP in terms of patient care management?
• What is your role in the setting where you practice and what procedures do you perform?
• What do you see as the pros and cons of opening your own practice?
• What advice can you give in terms of negotiating a contract?
• Describe your working relationship with physicians and other members of the health care team.
• What advice would you give a new graduate?
• How do you avoid burnout in your role?
• Do you precept students and what do you see as barriers to precepting?
• There are many professional organizations that an NP can join. Which would you recommend joining & why?
• What are your thoughts about the DNP as the entry point for advanced practice?

Sample Interview Summary Excerpt Question 4: Identify and describe your personal scope of practice as compared to your professional scope of practice. What are the differences? The APRN described her professional scope (per state practice act and NONPF guidelines) as encompassing comprehensive primary care, including prescribing, diagnosing, and procedures like joint injections. Her personal scope is more conservative; she performs toenail removals and suturing but refers joint injections due to limited recent training and practice volume. Follow-up: When asked why she limits certain procedures, she noted confidence grows with repetition and mentorship, aligning with Benner’s novice-to-expert model. This response highlights how individual comfort influences practice within legal bounds (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, 2024, https://www.nonpf.org/page/NP_Role_Core_Competencies).

The interview process reveals ongoing evolution in APRN roles, with NONPF competencies (updated regularly) emphasizing independent practice, evidence-based decision-making, and interprofessional collaboration. Recent data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) indicate full practice authority in 27 states improves access and outcomes, yet challenges like scope variability persist (AANP, 2025). Engaging practicing APRNs builds realistic expectations and supports transition-to-practice success.

• Write a 5–8 page APA-formatted paper for the APRN Interview Assignment, including introductory practice details, responses to 14+ questions, follow-ups, and critical self-reflection on NP role insights.
• Interview an experienced APRN in your specialty, summarize responses to required and additional questions, and reflect on professional challenges and competencies.

References

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2025). State practice environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2024). Nurse practitioner role core competencies. https://www.nonpf.org/page/NP_Role_Core_Competencies

Poghosyan, L., Liu, J., & Norful, A. A. (2022). Nurse practitioner primary care organizational climate: Development and validation of the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire (NP-PCOCQ). Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 54(4), 456–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12758

Thomas, A., Crabtree, M. K., et al. (2017). Nurse practitioner core competencies content. NONPF. https://cdn.ymaws.com/nonpf.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/competencies/20170516_NPCoreCompsContentF.pdf