RESUMO
PURPOSE: To describe the process of portfolio development and faculty review that offers graduate credit within a framework of structural empowerment and mentoring for documented educational and clinical accomplishments for family nurse practitioners (FNPs). DATA SOURCES: Selected literature and examples from one student's portfolio to illustrate the process. CONCLUSIONS: The degree granting process assists certified FNPs to fulfill career aspirations through achieving graduate level education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, School of Nursing. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The portfolio process affords practicing FNPs not only the opportunity to acquire an advanced degree but a framework for examining and validating a career. For the student in this exemplar, it was a "significant, introspective, satisfying learning experience," a rare opportunity in a busy professional life.
