Adult Health Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Career
What Do You Do in This Career?
Adult Health Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are defined almost as much by what they don’t do as by what they do. They don’t specialize in an area such as pediatrics or gerontology, and they don’t specifically treat men’s or women’s health issues. They are essentially the primary care providers for adolescents through middle aged adults. They diagnose and treat health problems and teach the preventive care that adults commonly need. Anything outside of this scope would be generally be referred to a specialist.
Typical days include consulting with patients, performing physical examinations, and being the first person consulted about irregular moles, women’s health issues, menopausal treatments, colds and flu, and providing adult immunizations. They provide the same basic care that your family doctor would.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: The average salary for an ANP ranges from $55,000 to $95,725. The gap is substantial because it can depend on a variety of factors: location, experience, and whether you specialize in a particular area.
- ANP Requirements: To become an ANP, you must be a certified registered nurse (RN) to apply for the program, hold at least a master’s degree, and pass the National Board certification.
- Work Environment: ANPs work in a variety of settings including community health centers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), hospitals, clinics, nursing schools, schools and colleges, doctors’ offices, public health departments, walk-in clinics, and a number of other settings.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
Courses in most adult health nurse practitioner programs typically include diagnostic reasoning, a theoretical foundation in nursing practices, management of acute and chronic health problems and gerontological nursing. The economics of health and insurance policies, as well as other professional issues are also covered, in addition to pharmacotherapeutics, disease prevention strategies and testing, and clinical decision making as a primary care nurse practitioner. This program covers a broad spectrum of health care methodologies.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.
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Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
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Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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University of Phoenix — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. |
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Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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