Nurse Practitioner Careers and Jobs
Right now, there is a shortage of nurses in the United States, making this a great option for people searching for an exciting career with plenty of job openings. If you want to work as a nurse, there are many routes from which to choose, including that of a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners (NP) have specific education and certification, which gives them certain privileges above and beyond those of a registered nurse (RN).
NPs perform a wide range of services, according to the United States National Library of Medicine. Some of these services overlap with the services performed by registered nurses or other kinds of nurses and can include compiling patients’ histories, doing exams, calling for testing, diagnosing and treating medical conditions, prescribing medications, referring patients to specialists, and performing medical procedures. Your exact duties as a nurse practitioner depend on the state where you practice. In some places, you may be able to have an independent practice, while in others; you need to be affiliated with a medical doctor.
Steps to Become a Nurse Practitioner
If you are interested in a career as a nurse practitioner, your first step is to become a registered nurse. This requires an associate’s degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Afterwards, the RN candidate must complete hands-on patient care training. NPs must have the bachelor’s degree, though they may opt to get an associate’s degree and work as a nurse for a few years first, as employers often offer to pay for advanced education. In most locations, nurse practitioners are also required to have a master’s degree. During the education process, most NPs choose a specialty, and after completion of their education, they must be licensed by the state where they work. In addition, nurse practitioners may choose to be nationally certified, which may also be a requirement in some states.
- Earn an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.
- Receive a Registered Nurse Certification.
- Enroll and complete an MSN Nurse Practitioner program.
- Obtain NP certification and proper licensure, which varies by state.
Different Types of Nurse Practitioners
A nurse practitioner provides primary care to patients in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. An NP is responsible for recording and analyzing a patient’s history, performing physical exams, ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing physical therapy and other similar tasks. There are two types of NPs: Clinical and Administrative. Within these two types are a variety of specialties to choose from such as Pediatric, Family and, Adult care, Geriatrics, Women’s Health, Neonatal, Acute care, and Occupational Health. When pursuing an MSN degree, the program choice can be broad but also very specific; it is just a matter of choosing the best specialty for the type of nursing career desired.
Clinical Careers
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an advanced-practice nurse who provides care to a specific age group or health concern. These nurses work closely with physicians and healthcare teams to ensure comprehensive patient care.
- Nurse Anesthetist: A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a trained expert with advanced skills in the organization and management of anesthetic agents. A CRNA works with surgical teams and their support staff to control patient safety and minimize pain.
- Nurse Midwife: A certified nurse mid-wife (CNM) provides prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal maternity care to expectant mothers. CNMs offer gynecologic examinations and often prescribe medication.
- General Nurse Practitioner: A nurse practitioner (NP) offers patient care in various sub-specialties such as cardiology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, primary care, pediatric oncology, among other areas. NPs serve as the primary care provider and can stand in for physicians.
Administrative Careers
- Clinical Nurse Leader: A clinical nurse leader (CNL) is prepared to step into a leadership role by overseeing patient care and casework management. A nurse leader supervises other nurses and motivates staff to perform at high expectations and standards. This role contributes to the development of the curriculum and clinical instruction seminars for nursing students.
- Nurse Administrator: A nurse administrator is typically high-ranking or the head nurse at a hospital or health clinic. This role is responsible for various administrative tasks and provides managerial support to an entire department. Physicians rely on nurse administrators to manage and monitor the staff to ensure that all proper procedures are followed.
- Nurse Educator: A certified nurse educator (CNE) has a unique role in the healthcare industry. The CNE trains new practitioners in a clinical/field setting, develops a curriculum and other instructional strategies.
- Nurse Manager: Nurse managers are accountable for both administrative and nursing roles by directing and monitoring staff as well as managing patient care. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities depend on nurse managers to observe, compare, and identify the best practice methods. This role often handles budgets, prepares reports, and drafts manuals regarding departmental operations and procedures.
Nurse Practitioner Salary and Career Information
NPs most commonly work at clinics, hospitals, and private offices, but there are other employer opportunities as well, including nursing homes, government health departments, veteran’s organizations, and health care agencies. No matter where you work, there are tons of incentives to becoming a NP as well, since many employers are so short-staffed that they offer not only tuition programs, but also high salaries, excellent benefits, and other perks. Right now is a great time to pursue a job in this industry, and the advanced degree you get as a nurse practitioner can really boost you to the top of the candidate list when applying for jobs.
- Estimated Salary: $57,967 – $100,087 (determined by place of employment and area of specialty), according to Payscale.com.
- Job Setting: Private practices, outpatient care centers, nursing homes, hospitals (intensive care unit), neonatal unit, internal medicine clinics, ambulatory care, family practice offices.
- Job Prospects: Excellent, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
One of the most rewarding and flexible careers today is that of a nurse practitioner. In order to pursue a nurse practitioner degree, one should have either an associates or a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Below are a list of schools offering high-quality programs that can help you on your way to becoming a nurse practitioner.
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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