Before you start any degree program, it is important to understand you career path upon completion so that your time is not spent in vain. If you’re already a registered nurse, one of the ways to advance in your career is to become a nurse practitioner. This is an option if you go back to school to get your masters of science in nursing (MSN), and although at first glance it may not seems like the job of a nurse practitioner is much different from the job of an RN, there are some very clear ways in which your day to day tasks will be different.

General Nursing Duties

Most nurse practitioners work in hospitals or medical centers, like registered nurses. There, they’ll be responsible for a number of general nursing duties, which are duties completed by nurses of all educational levels. These duties include gathering patient histories, working with doctors to order diagnostic tests, and performing routine examinations. Nurses may also be in charge of tasks such as taking blood, checking vital signs, delivering meals, and maintaining records, though many times, these duties are left to lower-level nurses, rather than to nurse practitioners.

Diagnosing

Unlike general registered nurses, who work under the supervision of doctors, a nurse practitioner can get involved with the diagnosing process. Nurse practitioners can order diagnostic testing and view results to make an official diagnosis. In all states, nurse practitioners can write prescriptions, and in some states, they don’t have to be under supervision of a doctor. Many facilities still rely on doctors to perform complex diagnosis, but nurse practitioners are more than qualified to make a simple diagnosis.

Primary Care

A nurse practitioner can act as the primary caregiver when a doctor isn’t available. In some states, nurse practitioners must work in collaboration with a doctor, but in other states, this isn’t required. That means that you could even open your own practice as a nurse practitioner in some locations. With a nurse practitioner program, you’ll specialize in one area of medicine, like cardiology or geriatrics, so the care you give specifically depends on your specialty.

Paperwork

With any medical facility, there’s a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed. As a nurse practitioner, you’ll be responsible for maintain patient records and writing reports, among other things. This might be one of the most boring parts of your day, but it is also one of the most important, as incorrect paperwork can lead to dangerous drug interactions, an incorrect diagnosis, and other patient mix ups.

Management

Lastly, many nurse practitioners work in management positions in their facility. This might mean that you’re in charge of a nursing station or staff of nurses. It could also mean extra duties, like scheduling, conflict resolution, and teaching.

Overall, your duties as a nurse practitioner depend highly on where you work and what your specialty is. Every day brings new cases, so this is a field where it is hard to get bored.

Nowadays, earning an advance nursing degree online from the comfort of your own home is quite simple. The following schools are tops in the nation in terms of delivering a quality, accredited online nursing practition education.

MSN - Nurse Practitioner RN to MSN - Informatics RN to MSN - Education RN to MSN - Leadership	Walden University — The Walden School of Nursing offers several unique master's in nursing degree programs for the aspiring nurse practitioner. For those RNs who have already obtained their BSN degrees, there are multiple fast-track MSN programs offered that will get you on the path to your degree as fast as possible.
MSN - Clinical Nursing MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Women's Health More...	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practition offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Graduates of this program will be qualified as nurse practitioners with a valuable niche skillset. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, as listed on the left.
MS in Nursing MSN / MHA Dual Degree MSN - Health Education MSN - Health Informatics	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 - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership RN to MSN - Nurse Practitioner	Gonzaga University — Gonzaga's Master of Science in nursing degree with a specialization in health systems leadership will dutifully prepare anyone for a career as a nurse practitioner. Students of this program learn administrative, human capital management, financial, ethical, and legal skills.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty's Master of Science degree program in nursing is geared toward individuals interested in acute care nursing. Students of this program will be trained to become a clinical nursing specialist (CNS) in acute care. Liberty University is the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability and their general MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for busy working healthcare nurses and professionals looking for advancement in their respective careers.
MSN - Adult Acute Care MSN - Adult Psych Care MSN - Clinical Trials MSN - Nursing Leadership	Drexel University — Drexel's MSN - adult acute care nurse practitioner program is geared toward preparing students for professional nursing practice with acutely ill patients. Graduates of this program can find careers in several settings, including ICUs, clinics, emergency departments, medical research laboratories, and more.
MSN - Nurse Education MSN/MBA - Leadership MSN - Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University is always worth a look for students seeking a well-rounded education that integrates the ideals of the Christian belief set. GCU is not only one of the most renowned Christian universities in the nation, but also offers a variety of graduate-level nursing degrees for students to choose from.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse practitioner degree program from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of this program will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more.
MSN - Nurse Educator MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — The master's degree in nursing education is taught in two flavors by Capella University. The regular BSN in nursing education is geared toward nurses with a BSN under their belts. They also offer an MSN bridge to nursing education that is designed for bachelor's degree holders in other subjects not related to nursing.
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