Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP) Career
What Do You Do in This Career?
With an increasing population of elderly people, gerontological nursing is in high demand and will continue to grow. Gerontological nurse practitioners (GNPs) will likely be able to find opportunities regardless of their location, and you will find that some companies even offer incentive plans to attract qualified nurses. Some of these include childcare, flexible work schedules, and competitive benefits.
This field can be trying since elderly patients often have multiple health problems that interact and complicate one another. There are no simple illnesses for the elderly, and a good GNP has to be on top of their game when it comes to knowing medication interactions, diet, multiple health problems, predispositions, and mental states of his or her patients. Communicating well with the elderly and their families is also a vital skill, as you need to be able to help families deal with serious illness and death.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: Average salary for NPs range between $70,957 and $118,359. GNPs tend to earn higher salaries than other specialties in the field.
- GNP Requirements: In order to become an NP, you must be a registered nurse (RN), earn a master’s degree or higher, and pass a certification exam in your specialty. There is a National Board certification exam, and each state also has its own licensing requirements.
- Work Environment: GNPs work in a variety of settings. Some of these include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, physicians’ offices, home care, hospice care, and retirement communities.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
Coursework includes advanced practice nurse internships, acute care for older adults, advanced nursing care, assessment and management of health, holistic health assessment, morality and ethics in nursing, pharmacology, statistics, and management of older adult disorders. Learning to analyze patient health history, test results, and symptoms to create a complete picture of the patients’ health is emphasized in almost every class.
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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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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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 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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South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability. Their MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for registered nurses who may be too busy with work for full-time campus classes, but looking for professional advancement in their respective careers by earning an online degree. |
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