A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who has earned an additional degree in nursing, typically a Master of Science in Nursing or higher. The “advanced practice” part of the title means that the person has completed rigorous educational requirements to further specialize in a particular area of nursing. The nurse’s advanced training and education entitle them to exercise some of the clinical nursing functions that used to be the domain of doctors, such as prescribing medications and performing procedures such as surgery.
NPs are skilled independent professionals who have the autonomy to diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses, manage complex medical conditions, prescribe medications, perform surgeries including obstetrical/gynecological procedures such as delivering babies or performing cesarean sections, and provide health assessments and counseling. Nurse practitioners are also trained to serve as patient advocates in a medical setting and to educate clients about illness prevention strategies.
Nurse practitioners work in close collaboration with physicians, and other qualified health care providers as part of a multidisciplinary group. They help people prevent illness, stay healthy, manage acute or chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart failure, recover from injury or surgery, and deal with stress-related disorders like depression or anxiety.
NPs provide a full scope of primary care including wellness (diet, hygiene, exercise), disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness, as well as the management of individuals with complex or long-term conditions.
Some of the key responsibilities of a nurse practitioner include:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners are most commonly utilized in team-based models that provide preventative and primary care. They work in hospital outpatient and inpatient settings, private group practice, community health centers, long-term care facilities, emergency departments, and urgent care clinics. NPs also work in rural health clinics, corporate clinics, children’s hospitals, and schools. The most common work site settings for NPs are:
Summary of Steps
01
Begin your journey by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, the foundational step towards becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
02
After completing your BSN, become a Registered Nurse (RN) by passing the NCLEX-RN exam, gaining essential clinical skills.
03
Accumulate valuable nursing experience to build a strong foundation for advanced practice nursing roles.
04
Choose a patient population or specialty area that aligns with your interests and career goals.
05
Pursue a graduate nursing degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
06
Achieve certification by successfully passing a national Nurse Practitioner certification exam, solidifying your expertise in your chosen specialty.
Steps in Detail
Your journey begins with a solid academic foundation. Enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at an accredited institution. This comprehensive program typically takes four years to complete and covers subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and nursing theory. You’ll also gain hands-on clinical experience in various healthcare settings. The BSN equips you with a strong understanding of nursing fundamentals and critical thinking skills. It’s essential to excel in this phase as it lays the groundwork for your future advanced practice.
With your BSN in hand, the next step is to become a Registered Nurse (RN). To do this, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This rigorous exam tests your nursing knowledge and skills, ensuring you meet the standards required to practice as an entry-level RN. After successfully passing the NCLEX-RN, you’ll earn your RN license, allowing you to begin your nursing career.
As a newly minted RN, you’ll enter the workforce to gain valuable clinical experience. This phase is crucial in developing your skills, confidence, and understanding of patient care. Many aspiring Nurse Practitioners work in hospital settings, clinics, or community healthcare facilities, providing direct patient care, administering medications, and collaborating with healthcare teams. Building this experience strengthens your foundation and prepares you for the advanced responsibilities of a Nurse Practitioner.
Identifying a population focus is a pivotal step on your journey to becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP). This decision shapes your future practice and allows your education to align precisely with the patients you’ll serve. NP students make this determination when entering their NP program, ensuring that their education caters to the unique needs of their chosen patient population.
This early commitment directs the trajectory of your academic and clinical studies, enabling you to delve deeply into the specific healthcare challenges and nuances of your selected patient group. For instance, if you opt for the role of a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), your education will revolve around offering a wide spectrum of healthcare services to patients of all ages, from infants to seniors.
While core courses in areas such as pathology, pharmacology, and physical assessment are integral to all NP programs, this population-focused approach ensures that your educational investment is entirely concentrated on the clinical area where you’ll ultimately practice. It’s a strategic decision that not only sharpens your expertise but also enhances your ability to provide specialized, patient-centered care.
Population foci in NP programs are diverse, catering to various patient needs:
To practice as a Nurse Practitioner, you’ll need to pursue an advanced nursing degree. Most NPs opt for either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. MSN programs typically take two to three years to complete, while DNPs can take an additional year or more. These programs build on your nursing knowledge, enhancing your clinical and leadership skills. You’ll study advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment, among other subjects. Additionally, you’ll gain hands-on clinical experience in your chosen specialty.
After earning your graduate degree, you must become certified in your chosen Nurse Practitioner specialty. To achieve this, you’ll need to pass a national certification exam administered by organizations like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). This exam evaluates your clinical knowledge and competence in your specialty area. Successfully passing the certification exam solidifies your status as a Nurse Practitioner and demonstrates your expertise to employers and patients.
Nurse practitioners earn a competitive base salary with the potential to earn significantly more with increased education and experience. According to the 2019 AANP National Nurse Practitioner Sample Survey, the average hourly rate for all NPs, regardless of the number of hours worked, was $60.94. The median total annual income for a full-time NP, excluding benefit packages, was $115,000. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers employed in a profession earned more than the stated amount and half earned less.
In addition to base compensation, a significant number of NPs (33.7%) reported receiving a bonus or incentive payment based on factors such as quality outcomes, number of patient encounters, practice revenue, and patient satisfaction.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow at an astounding rate of 38% through the year 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Strong demand for people in this profession is attributed to increased demand for healthcare services for an aging population and an increased focus on preventative care within the healthcare industry.
Other important factors contributing to the growth of this profession include:
Additional Resources