Everything You Need to Know About Becoming A Nurse Practitioner

• June 4, 2020
• kupplinadmin
• no comments

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has earned at least a Master’s degree and completed additional training in a specialty area of medicine. Because of their advanced skills, NPs have more authority for administering patient care compared to Registered Nurses. For example, NPs can prescribe medication, administer physical exams, diagnose illnesses and provide advanced medical treatment similar to a doctor. While NPS has more authority than RNs and practice physician-level type care, some states require doctors to supervise their patient care decisions.

Typical Responsibilities of a Nurse Practitioner Include:

• Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, injuries, and infections
• Writing prescriptions for medications, including their dosage and frequency
• Ordering and conducting diagnostic tests, like electrocardiograms (EKGs) and x-rays
• Teaching patients about managing their health, making recommendations and designing treatment plans
• Examining and recording patient medical histories, symptoms, and diagnoses
• Providing guidance to patients about medications, side effects, and interactions

Source: All Nursing Schools

What is the fastest way to become a nurse practitioner?

• Earn Credentials As a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Earn A Bachelor’s And An Optional Master’s Degree
• Earn Some Experience
• Obtain State License And Certification.
• Pursue Further Specialization.

Source: Learn How To Become

Various Options For Family Nurse Practitioners

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Geriatric or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Chronic Pain Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nurse Advocate
• Nurse Researcher

Source: Nurse Journal

Nursing Career FAQs

What is the highest-paid nurse practitioner specialty?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists (graduate-level nurses with certification in anaesthesia) is the highest-paid advanced practice nurse, with a median salary of $160,270.The highest-paid nurse practitioner annual salaries (excluding nurse anaesthetists) according to payscale.com are:

1. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: $98,899
2. Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner: $97,514
3. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: $97,451
4. Adult Nurse Practitioner: $95,405
5. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: $94,955
6. Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner: $94,323
7. General Nurse Practitioner: $91,208
8. Nurse Midwife: $90,482
9. Family Nurse Practitioner: $89,897
10. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: $86,512
11. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner: $85,730

How many years does it take to become a nurse practitioner?

The 4-year degree must be in nursing at a minimum. After earning your BSN, you’ll need to complete a master’s degree program that trains nurse practitioners. These are called Nurse Practitioner (NP) degrees. NP degrees can take 2 to 4 years.

Source: Health E Careers

Is it hard to become a nurse practitioner?

NPS generally must have a master’s degree in nursing, but a bachelor’s degree is typically a prerequisite for graduate studies. If you are a recent high school graduate, the most direct route to an immediate, post-secondary career in nursing would be to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree.

Source: ECPI