title: The master's portfolio: validating a career in advanced practice nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Family Nurse Practitioner Program, University of Massachusetts, Hampshire College Health Services, Amherst, Mass., USA. efhayes@nursing.umass.edu
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merriam
authors.forename: M Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*