Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Become a Nurse Practitioner

If you're a registered nurse who is ready to take on more advanced and autonomous job duties, such as making and carrying out medical decisions, or being able to develop treatment plans for individual patients, then becoming a nurse practitioner could be a great career move for you.

Nurse Practitioner in a Nutshell

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has usually earned a master's degree and has advanced training in treating and managing a variety of medical conditions. Typically, nurse practitioners work closely with physicians and provide the same basic services. In addition, nurse practitioners are often the patient's first point of contact in a medical office, deciding whether to refer a patient to a physician for further diagnosis and care. Finally, licensed nurse practitioners can write prescriptions, and in some states, open their own practices.

Education Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

To be licensed as a nurse practitioner, you'll first need to complete the education and training to become a registered nurse (RN), with a master's of science in nursing (MSN) strongly preferred, and in many states, required. Check individual states for requirements, but here's a basic outline of what you'll need:

• RN degree (with an MSN typically preferred)
• State-approved advanced clinical training program
• Licensure by the state in intended field of practice
• National certification from the American Nursing Association, or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. (These are optional, but recommended programs, especially if you're intending to pursue certification in a specialty.)

Every state has its own rules regarding how long it will take to accomplish this, but usually most people who already have an RN can complete all of the requirements in two years, including the necessary year of advanced clinical practice. Programs and requirements within each state are different, however.

Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners often work as part of a team in a medical office or in other facilities, such as urgent care. Others choose to go into private practice and provide personal, individualized health care. The fundamental goal of nurse practitioner's is individualized care, with a philosophy of prevention, wellness and education.

Because of the wide variety of specialties and working environments, a nurse practitioner's daily tasks vary greatly. They may include some or all of the following:

• Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors
• Collaborating with physicians as needed, including providing referrals
• Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, infections and injuries
• Diagnosing, treating and monitoring chronic diseases
• Prescribing medications
• Obtaining medical histories and performing physical exams
• Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic studies such as lab tests, x-rays and EKGs

Job Growth for Nurse Practitioners

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession holds the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. In particularly high demand are nurse practitioners, especially in medically underserved areas, such as inner cities and rural areas. Job opportunities for RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent and grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014.

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