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
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a graduate-level degree. While in most states RNs currently need only a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree to become nurse practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has proposed that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) be the minimum requirement for all advanced practice nurses by 2015. Listed below are the best online colleges offering accredited MSN and DNP degrees.
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Georgetown University — The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies offers two online Master of Science in nursing degrees. The MS in family nurse practitioner program prepares students for careers as family nurses. The MS in midwifery / women's health nurse practitioner program perpares students for careers as nurse practitioners who specialize as midwives and caring for female patients. |
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Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more. |
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University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University offers a basic RN to MSN degree, as well as several specializations within this program, including case management, infection prevention and control, management and organizational leadership, and nursing informatics. Graduates of these programs will all have a fundamental understanding of health and illness and will be able to provide direct care to individuals, families, and groups with a variety of health needs. |
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University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse midwifery, and psychiatric & mental health nursing. |
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