What Kind of Work Does a Nurse Practitioner Do Day to Day?
Most nurse practitioners work in hospitals or medical centers, like registered nurses. There, NPs are 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. At first glance it may not seem 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 are different.
General Nursing Duties
A nurse practitioner provides diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and follow-up under the supervision of one or more physicians in the practice, depending on each state’s practice regulations. NPs provide specialty and age-appropriate medical care at the level of training completed. NPs are responsible for a number of general nursing duties including, gathering patient histories, working with doctors to order diagnostic tests, and performing routine examinations. NPs may also be in charge of tasks such as taking blood, checking vital signs, delivering meals, and maintaining records. Below are specific descriptions of various NP job duties:
- Diagnosing: NPs 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 do not 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 NP can act as the primary caregiver when a doctor is not available. In some states, NPs must work in collaboration with a doctor, but in other states, this is not required. That means that you could even open your own practice as a nurse practitioner in some locations. An NP specializes in one area of medicine, like oncology or geriatrics, so the care given specifically depends on their specialty.
- Medical Recordkeeping: With any medical facility, there is a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed. NPs are responsible for maintaining patient records and writing reports, among other things. Paperwork is one of the most important duties of an NP because incorrect paperwork can lead to dangerous drug interactions, an incorrect diagnosis, and other patient mix ups.
- Management: Many NPs assume management positions at a hospital or healthcare facility. For example, an NP can work as a nurse manager which involves the supervision and scheduling of staff and overall department administration.
Overview of a Nurse Practitioner Career
Primary Job Duties:
- Taking the patient’s history, performing physical exams, and ordering laboratory tests and procedures
- Diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases
- Prescribing medication, in varying degrees
- Coordinating referrals
- Performing certain procedures and minor surgeries, such as bone marrow biopsy or lumbar puncture
- Providing patient education and counseling to support healthy lifestyle behaviors
Work Environment: Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings and are often trained to practice in a specialty area. These may include:
- Cardiology
- Emergency
- Family practice
- Geriatrics
- Neonatology
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Primary care
- School health
- Women’s health
Salary and Job Outlook: Depending on the scope of practice, many NPs earn up to $113,000 a year. With an advanced degree, salaries and career opportunities are much greater for NPs.
Nurse Practitioner Requirements
The most common requirements to become a nurse practitioner include a minimum of a master’s degree in advanced nursing, a valid RN license, and passing a national certification or state-issued examination. Many states require continuing education classes or maintenance of a national certification to renew a license, and some states require nurse practitioners to obtain special licensing in order to prescribe medication. Below are the required steps to becoming a nurse practitioner:
- Earn a Nursing Degree- Completion of an undergraduate degree program prepares students for entry level positions in clinical settings.
- Become a Registered Nurse (RN)- Each state requires a practicing nurse to have an RN license.
- Complete a MSN degree in Nursing- RNs with a bachelor’s degree who are interested in becoming NPs can qualify for the position by earning a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
- Obtain an Advance Practice Nurse Licensure- Most states require additional licensure for advanced practice nurses. In addition to an NP license, others within this field include clinical nursing, nurse anesthetics, and nursing midwifery.
- Obtain Specialized Certification- The successful completion of a graduate degree program and licensure requirements prepare graduates to sit for certification examinations specific to their careers.
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. Becoming a nurse practitioner opens many doors and provides numerous career opportunities. Visit our list of accredited schools and degrees to find a MSN program that meets your needs, and begin your career training today.
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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