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FAANP Career Advancement Program

Preparing the Next Generation of Nurse Practitioner (NP) Leaders

About the FAANP Career Advancement Program

The Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) are proud to connect NPs with Fellows who are leaders in their field and are willing to share their expertise to promote the career development of others. Whether you’re interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) invites you to discover the mutually-rewarding benefits of the FAANP Career Advancement Program.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be an AANP member in good standing and have at least three years of post-licensure experience.
  • The program is not a pathway to AANP Fellowship.
  • The program is not to be used to support an academic or educational program because mentors may not serve as an advisor for any part of degree completion (e.g., PhD or EdD, DNSc, DNS and DNP dissertations; clinical projects; and classroom assignments).

Program Expectations

  • Communication Commitment: Applicants must commit to maintaining clear and regular communication with their mentor.
  • Communication Formats: The methods of communication (e.g., phone, email, video chat) should be mutually agreed upon by both the mentee and mentor.
  • Time Commitment: The frequency and duration of meetings (e.g., monthly, with interim tasks for the mentee) must be mutually determined and agreed upon.
  • Program Duration: Applicants must commit to the agreed length of the formal mentoring relationship (e.g., six, 12, or 18 months).
  • Setting Goals: Mentees are responsible for negotiating mentoring goals, establishing short- and long-term deliverables and setting a reasonable time frame for achieving these goals.
  • Program Completion: At the end of the program, mentees must submit an executive summary. If applicable, outcomes of the experience should be shared in some form (e.g., publication, poster presentation at the AANP national conference).
  • Remuneration: Mentoring services must be provided without any form of remuneration.
  • Academic/Institutional Boundaries: The mentoring relationship must not be related to any academic or institutional endeavor, or to degree completion.

Selection Process

Once the mentee's online application is submitted, the FAANP Ad Hoc Career Advancement Committee will review it to assess its suitability for the program. If accepted, the Committee will utilize information in the application to pair applicants with an AANP Fellow whose expertise aligns with the mentee’s stated needs.

Notification Process

All mentee applicants will be informed of their selection status. For those who are selected, an email will be sent with the contact information of the matched mentor, enabling the mentee to initiate communication and collaborate on a plan tailored to their goals.

If you are seeking a mentor to work with on a one-to-one basis to enhance your professional and personal growth, consider applying for the FAANP Career Advancement Program.

The application cycle is now closed.

Questions about the application process can be directed to faanp@aanp.org.

FAANP Career Advancement Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have a question? The FAANP Career Advancement Program has answers! The most common program questions are answered below.

  • What benefits do I gain from having a mentor?

    Almost all professionals, nurse practitioner (NP) or otherwise, grow exponentially with the guidance of a mentor. You may have been informed a mentor could help you, or you might feel a sense of wanting more from your career or desire personal growth. There are numerous valid reasons to desire a mentor.

    Benefits of having an NP mentor include but are not limited to the following:

    • Elevate the NP experience.
    • Motivate and inspire.
    • Promote lifelong learning.
    • Act as a safe place to discuss issues in a disciplined, solutions-focused manner.
    • Understand and support NPs as colleagues.
    • Widen and deepen the NP network and influence.
    • Pursue leadership development.
  • Are all the mentors Fellows?

    Yes, in the FAANP Career Advancement Program, all mentoring is done by AANP Fellows.

  • What are some examples of projects?

    Some examples of past mentorship projects include:

    • Creating educational programs- professional or patient based.
    • Exploring skills needed for new roles.
    • Navigating expectations and workplace changes.
    • Transition into administrative roles.
    • Transition into academic roles.
    • Leadership growth opportunities in an organization.
    • Creating a presentation.
    • Quality improvement project.
    • Business plan.
    • Advocacy plan.
    • Writing an article.
  • How do I apply?

    The application period is currently closed and will open in Fall of 2024.

  • What do I need to have prepared to complete the application?

    Complete a self-assessment to determine the following.

    • Your readiness for formal mentorship.
    • What mentorship area you need and want to further develop.
    • Description of a project and what support may be needed to best achieve intended goals
  • How do I find a mentor?

    Applicants do not choose a mentor. The FAANP Mentorship Committee will match applicants with a Fellow of like interest and notify the dyads of the match via email.

  • Once accepted and matched, what can I expect?

    When a match has been identified, applicants will be notified via email and will be provided with the identified mentor’s contact information to facilitate dyadic communication and plan development that works best for the individual mentor-mentee teams.

    The Career Advancement Committee will offer an orientation session for mentors and mentees with the date and time to be determined.

    Your first meeting with your mentor is a time to:

    • Discuss your goals, outcomes and deliverables.
    • Determine a communication method.
    • Establish timelines for goal and deliverable attainment.
    • Establish scheduled meeting times.
  • What are the roles of the mentor and mentee relationship within the program?
    • Mentees are responsible for negotiating mentoring goals (short- and long-term), deliverables and a reasonable time frame to accomplish the goals.
    • Mentees are also responsible for establishing the type of interaction (email, phone or video meetings) the dyad will have, producing intermediate deliverables on time, being receptive to feedback and establishing next steps.
    • Upon completion of the program, an executive summary must be submitted by the mentee and, if applicable, disseminated.
    • Mentors are responsible for helping mentees establish clear goals and defined short- and long-term deliverables that can be achieved within a reasonable time frame.
    • Mentors agree to adhere to the agreed upon communication method (email, phone or video meetings), provide sound feedback and offer suggestions and resources that can assist mentees with achieving their goals.
  • Why is the FAANP Career Advancement Program not a path to AANP Fellowship?

    The mentoring program is designed to assist any NP with growing personally and professionally. AANP Fellows as mentors are valuable guides in this process because of their outstanding, sustained career contributions to the NP role in defined areas.

  • Why shouldn’t I ask for or expect a mentor to help me with an academic assignment?

    Mentoring programs are personal and lightly structured. They are not time-bound, so they are not suitable to support students in academic programs.

  • Do deliverables have to be a research or quality improvement project?

    No. Deliverables for this mentoring program are mutually determined between the mentor and mentee at the beginning of the relationship. Deliverables certainly can include research or quality improvement projects, with the exception that any related products, accomplishments and deliverables are NOT — in whole or in part — related to an academic program or degree path requirement or assignment.

    Upon completion of the program, an executive summary must be submitted and, if applicable, disseminated.

  • What is the expected time frame for this program?

    Typically, this formal relationship lasts approximately one year, but it may also be shorter or longer, depending upon the mutually agreed upon dyadic goals.

  • Do mentees pay mentors?

    No. Remuneration is not permitted under any circumstances.

  • What if my mentor and I don’t “fit”?

    If the match does not work, for whatever reason, please contact the FAANP Career Advancement Program at faanp@aanp.org.

  • What outcomes should mentees expect?

    Mentees and mentors mutually agree upon goals set forth in the application process. Those goals should be further defined so progress and success can be achieved within the time specified.

    Upon completion of the program, an executive summary must be submitted and, if applicable, disseminated.

  • What happens if my circumstances change in the middle of the program — do I have to drop out?

    Discuss circumstances with your assigned mentor and inform the FAANP Career Advancement Program that a pause or drop is requested.

Do you still have a question?

The FAANP Career Advancement Program is happy to help! Send your question(s) to careerenrichment@aanp.org.