Find Out How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
If you’re interested in learning how to become a nurse practitioner, the first step will be to
research the career and education requirements, and licensure and training information, in
addition to learning about the experience that’s required in order to begin a career in this
healthcare position.
For those individuals who are interested in finding out how to become a nurse practitioner,
learning about the role and responsibilities of the NP will help you to determine if this type of
position is right for you. The NP is an advanced nurse, who works by providing healthcare
services that are similar to those of a doctor. A nurse practitioner can choose to specialize in
geriatric, family or pediatric medicine. The common duties for this position will include
providing treatment for patients who are suffering from an illness or injury. An NP can also
educate patients and prescribe medication. Some practitioners can also order tests and determine
the results of those tests.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: Associate’s and
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
All NPs need to be licensed, which will involve passing the NCLEX-RN exam. When it comes
to learning how to become a nurse practitioner, the aspiring NP will need to begin by obtaining a
two or four year degree in nursing. Completing an undergraduate program will prepare a student
for an entry level position in this field, in a clinical setting. Students will also be prepared to meet
the determined state licensure and certification requirements for the RN. Most students will
begin this career by completing the associate’s degree program and will use the transferable
credits to obtain their bachelor’s degree.
Many colleges will offer a number of options for students who are interested in learning how to
become a nurse practitioner and obtain the bachelor’s degree. Students that are interested in
learning how to become a nurse practitioner will need to obtain the bachelor’s degree in order to
qualify for NP programs. Some of the common areas of study will include anatomy, basic
pharmacology, community health and nursing, pediatrics and geriatric medicine. In the clinical
rotations portion of the program a student will have the opportunity to obtain hands on
experience working in the field in a number of healthcare environments.
Obtaining Licensure as a Registered Nurse
All states will require an NP to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, to obtain licensure as a registered
nurse. Additional registration and licensing requirements will include fingerprinting and criminal
background checks.
In order to work as a nurse practitioner, an individual will need to obtain a master’s degree from
an approved nursing program. These programs are designed to prepare a student for specialty
practices and primary care practice. Courses a student will complete in an accredited master’s
degree program will include advanced nursing practices, geriatric medicine, community
medicine and healthcare, pharmacology and additional clinical rotations.
A nurse practitioner will need to obtain a state license. Each state will have their own licensure
requirements, but will typically include obtaining certification from a certifying organization and
completing an accredited NP program.
Certification for specialty areas are offered for adult care, family care, pediatrics, women’s
health, mental health and diabetes management. To qualify for certification in a specialty area an
NP will usually need to obtain over five-hundred hours working in the field, in addition to sixhundred hours of class time. Certification for specialties in this field are offered by the ANCC,
AANP and the PNCB.
Master’s Degree Programs for Nurse Practitioners
The master’s degree programs designed for students interested in learning how to become a
nurse practitioner can be completed in two to three years. As a professional, most NPs will
choose to specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as internal medicine or gynecology,
during their graduate study. A master’s degree program will include lectures, seminars and
courses in addition to completing clinical rotations. Some of the common classes include
pharmacology, pathophysiology and management in the healthcare field.
To work as an NP most professionals will need to obtain additional licensure. The licensing for
NPs is regulated by individual states and the requirements will vary, although all practitioners
will first be required to have licensure as a registered nurse and have a master’s degree in one of
four areas: nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, clinical nursing or nurse practitioner. Some states
will mandate additional professional experience and extra exams. Most states will require NPs to
complete continuing education classes in order to maintain valid licensure and renew their
license.
Once a student has completed the master’s degree program they will be prepared to sit for the
certification exam for their area of specialty. The AANP and the ANCC are two certifying
organizations that offer certification that’s recognized by most states. Certification will typically
include passing a written exam and most of these organizations will include continuing education
requirements, in order to maintain credentials in this field.
Now that you know how to become a nurse practitioner, you can begin on your path to this
exciting career by researching schools in your area that offer accredited nurse practitioner
programs.
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do on the Job?
There are many healthcare positions to choose from, with the higher paying positions requiring
more education and training. If you’re interested in learning about what does a nurse practitioner
do, the role and responsibility of the NP will be based on an individual’s area of specialty, their
years of experience and their place of employment. What does a nurse practitioner do can also
depend on the state they reside in, as some states will have more restrictions on the type of care
an NP can provide.
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do: Learn About the
Education and Training Requirements
The NP can be described as an RN who has undergone additional training. The additional
training typically comes in the form of the three year master’s degree. All NPs in the U.S. are
required to hold the minimum of a master’s degree in order to qualify for certification and
employment. There are a number of types of NP positions to choose from, based on an
individual’s specialty qualifications. These fields will include family practice, emergency
medicine, cardiology, nephrology, pediatrics, oncology, primary care, school health and
women’s health. The nurse practitioner is required to go through an accredited program in their
particular area of specialty and complete hundreds of hours training in the field.
Job Description for Nurse Practitioners
If you’d like the learn more about what does a nurse practitioner do when working on the floor,
the NP will carry out many of the same duties as the registered nurse but their scope of practice
will be much wider because they have advanced training in nursing practices. The general nurse
practitioner job description will consist of providing treatment to patients under the supervision
of a physician, assisting physicians by carrying out patient exams, assessing patients, strategizing
treatment for patients, prescribing medications, consulting with physicians in regards to
treatment options for patients, administering anesthesia, updating patient records and taking
medical histories and applying casts and sutures.
Every state will have specific guidelines in regards to the scope of practice for NPs. Some states
will allow NPs to prescribe medication, without having a physician sign off on the order, while
in other states nurse practitioners will not be allowed to prescribe medication at all and will only
be able to recommend medication that may be needed, to the attending physician. The AMA
reports that the NP is typically able to provide over eighty percent of preventative and primary
healthcare. This position is described as highly stressful as the NP will not only be required to
remain on their feet for several hours a day but they will also need to complete an extensive
amount of documentation on all their patients as well.
Now that we have answered “what does a nurse practitioner do” you can determine if this type of
healthcare position is right for you and also research other types of healthcare positions and
degree programs in your area.
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Clinical Nurse Leader Job Description
A clinical nurse leader is an advanced practice expert who can provide patient consultation and
patient care services for a number of healthcare areas. The clinical nurse leader will usually
practice medicine, manage staff and work within a specific type of medical specialty or patient
population. These individuals are licensed nurses who will be required to have a doctoral or
master’s degree in this field.
The Clinical Nurse Leader Job Description and Training
Requirements
The clinical nurse leader will work in medical offices, clinics, private practices, hospitals and
other types of healthcare facilities. These professionals are typically experts in a specific area,
such as family medicine, gerontology, public policy, pediatrics or cardiovascular health.
Additionally, a clinical nurse will work by providing direct patient consultations and care. These
nurses will also usually be involved in facility administration, research and education.
This type of healthcare position will encompass a large range responsibilities. The clinical nurse
leader will treat a number of patients and will perform a variety of duties, depending on their
area of specialty. These nurses can perform mental health exams, basic wellness assessments and
gynecological exams. They can also provide patient consultations and ensure that patients
understand their medical condition and treatment options. These nurses will often serve in a
managerial or supervisory capacity over other nurses and they may be directly involved in the
administration or management of a facility or clinic.
Typically, the annual salary for this position ranges from $76,000 to $80,000. According to
statistics, the job growth for this position is expected to grow by more than twenty-two percent in
the next five years, which is faster than the average growth for most professions.
In order to qualify for this position, a clinical nurse leader will need to be an RN who acquires
additional education and experience in order to specialize in a particular field. The graduate
programs will typically offer specific specialization areas such as stem cell transplants, women’s
health, pediatrics or oncology.
After obtaining certification as an RN, the CNL will need to obtain an advanced degree, either a
doctorate or a master’s degree in nursing. These types of advanced degree programs will build
upon a student’s professional experience and undergraduate education and teach them research
methods, management guidelines, advocacy training, critical thinking skills and sociological
strategies.
Generally speaking, these programs will require students to complete classwork in health policy,
research, statistics, theory, patient assessment, pharmacology and epidemiology. Depending on
the specialty area and the type of program selected, the nursing student can complete this
advanced education in two to five years.
Many of these programs will include a clinical rotation that’s specific to an individual’s course
of study. Individuals that are interested in pursuing a career in pediatrics will complete their
clinical rotations in the pediatrics department of a hospital or those students interested in a career
working in the mental health field can work in a mental health facility, in order to obtain hands
on experience.
Licensure Requirements and Continuing Education Options
Every state will require graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Some states will also have
additional certification and licensure requirements for the clinical nurse leader. These extra
requirements can include working a minimum amount of hours in order to obtain credentials or
to fulfill continuing education requirements.
Typically continuing education requirements will vary from state to state and will involve
enrolling in online classes, attending lectures, seminars and workshops or retaking certification
exams. Usually the amount of required credits will range from twenty to thirty every two years,
in order to renew licensure.
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What Affects the Family Nurse Practitioner Salary?
The family nurse practitioner salary will be based on the state the NP resides in, their years of
experience, area of specialty and the type of facility they work in. An NP will conduct exams,
prescribe medication, diagnose common health problems, education patients, order tests and
provide other types of basic treatment. A family nurse practitioner is also qualified to
recommend courses of treatment and analyze test results. These healthcare professionals can also
assist doctors during complex medical procedures such as surgeries.
The Family Nurse Practitioner Salary: Learn Which Factors
will Affect Your Annual Income
The family nurse practitioner salary can range from $60,000 to $94,000, depending on several
factors. In addition to receiving their salary pay, most of these healthcare professionals will also
receive annual bonuses. Additional compensation in the form of profit sharing are also often
available. The total benefits and compensation for this position can put the family nurse
practitioner salary at as high as $100,000 a year.
There is a wide variety of factors that will determine the salary for this position, including
training, type of employer, geographic location, area of specialization and education.
Certifications that are earned by the NP will have a direct impact on their salary. Most NPs will
have previously worked as RNs in clinics, hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities. Over
fifty percent of these professionals will gain experience in their profession. Individuals that have
one to two years of experience in their area of specialty will make $60,000 to $80,000, while
those NPs with six to ten years of experience can anticipate a salary that ranges from $62,000 to
$100,000.
The family nurse practitioner salary will also vary from state to state. Typically, positions that
are found in east or west coast states can pay significantly higher than Midwestern states,
although the higher cost of living will help to equate any difference in salaries. Some of the
states that are known to provide the highest salaries for this position will include Florida,
California, Oregon, Texas, New York, North Carolina and Georgia. States that will offer the
lower annual salary for this position will include Tennessee, Iowa, Idaho and Utah.
How the Salary for Nurse Practitioners is affected by Place of Employment
When it comes to the family nurse practitioner salary, it can also be affected by the type of
facility in which they work. According to statistics, FNPs that worked in emergency departments
earned the highest annual salary. FNPs working in neonatal care units took home the second
highest salary, while individuals working in private practices brought home the lowest annual
salary. Other places of employment that offered the lower annual salary included NPs that
worked in free clinics and schools.
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Nurse Practitioner Vs. Physician Assistant: Finding the
Right Healthcare Career
When it comes to nurse practitioner vs. physician assistant, many students interested in a
healthcare career want to know the differences of the education requirements, salary and the
roles and responsibilities. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are healthcare
professionals who will usually work under the supervision of a doctor. There are different
specialties available within both of these professions and the roles of the nurse practitioner vs.
physician assistant are governed by varying state laws.
Nurse Practitioner Vs. Physician Assistant: What is the
Difference?
Aspiring physician assistants and nurse practitioners will both need to complete several years of
postsecondary education, which will often result in a master’s degree. Both of these healthcare
professionals will serve different roles in their place of employment, which can include private
practices, clinics, hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities.
When it comes to the education requirements for nurse practitioner vs. physician assistant, an NP
is a registered nurse who has obtained the three year master’s degree in a specialty area, such as
pediatrics, women’s health or geriatric medicine. The duties the NP is allowed to perform can
vary from state to state, but will usually involve treating and diagnosing chronic and acute
conditions, ordering tests, prescribing medication and educating and managing patients. The state
regulations will also determine whether a practitioner can work on an independent basis or
whether they will be required to collaborate with a licensed doctor. Some states will also prohibit
the NP from prescribing medication without an MD signing off on the order.
Licensure and Annual Salaries for NPs and PAs
The NP is required to obtain licensure in the state in which they reside. Additionally, there are a
number of voluntary certifications available for this position through such organizations as the
ANCC and the AANP. The average annual salary for the nurse practitioner can range from
$80,000 to $84,000.
A PA will practice medicine while working directly under the supervision of a doctor. A PA will
treat and examine patients, in addition to prescribing medication and ordering tests. A physician
assistant can also conduct therapy and apply casts for minor injuries. On the orders of a doctor
the PA can sometimes check on homebound patients, in addition to patients that reside in nursing
homes or assisted living facilities. The PA can work in a number of specialty fields including
surgery, internal medicine, family medicine or pediatrics. The exact role and responsibility of the
PA will be determined by the supervising doctor and will also depend on state laws.
To land employment the physician assistant will need to obtain state licensure and take the PA
certification exam. The average salary for this position ranges from $85,000 to $88,000 a year.
Now that you know the differences between the nurse practitioner vs. physician assistant, you
can begin by taking a look at local programs that offer accredited courses for these healthcare
positions.
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How to Become a Registered Nurse in Two Years
If you’re thinking of a career in the healthcare field, then you might be interested in learning
about how to become a registered nurse. The RN will work closely with physicians and other
healthcare staff in medical settings such as hospitals, clinics or private practices. The education
requirements for this career can be obtained by completing an associate’s degree or bachelor’s
degree program. Other requirements when it comes to how to become a registered nurse include
passing a licensing exam.
How to Become a Registered Nurse: Education
Requirements
When it comes to learning about how to become a registered nurse, the aspiring nurse will need
to pursue an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Some programs for nursing can
be interwoven and students that have obtained the associate’s degree can transfer their credits
and pursue the four year bachelor’s degree.
Students who have completed the associate’s degree program and have earned licensure as an
RN are equipped to work in the healthcare field. The bachelor’s degree program is designed for
the individual who wants to advance in this career field. The master’s degree program is three
years in length and can lead to career advancement opportunities, such as nurse practitioner,
clinical nurse or midwife nurse.
If you’re interested in how to become a registered nurse, you should first research the program
curricula and learn about the core topics. The classwork for many of these programs will be
heavy on basic science and healthcare principles. Some of the common classes will include child
care, gynecology, nursing types and how to perform health assessments.
One of the main requirements in place for all nursing programs is the completion of clinical
rotations. These clinical experiences will be supervised and will typically be held at clinics or
hospitals.
Registered Nurse Licensure Requirements
An RN will perform many duties, ranging from managerial to medical. These nurses will assist
physicians by treating patients will injuries and illness and other types of medical conditions and
they will educate them on aftercare. The clerical duties for this position will involve filling out
patient history records, updating patient’s charts and delivering test results. An RN can also be in
charge of CNAs and medical assistants.
The NCSBN will require all nurses who work in the U.S. to obtain licensure. This type of
requirement will involve graduating from an accredited nursing program and completing a
written exam, referred to as the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam also includes a practical
component, in order to ensure that an RN is properly educated and will be able to perform their
duties. Some states may also have additional licensure requirements.
Now that you know how to become a registered nurse you can get started on the path to this
exciting healthcare career by researching available nursing programs in your area.
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