CAREER SNAPSHOT
Summary
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who diagnose and treat health conditions. They also focus on disease prevention and health management.
Career Level
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Salary
National average, per year
$113,930
JOB OPENINGS
Current national estimate
65,612
DEMAND OUTLOOK
Actual salaries can vary substantially based on region, job description and employer expectations; does not include additional compensation. Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticcs.
By Raising Careers Staff | Updated: May 2019
OVERVIEW
Nurse Practitioner Job Description
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who have completed extensive education and training in a specialized area and patient population. They have the rewarding opportunity to provide preventative, holistic and personalized care to their patients. They can diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses and order diagnostic tests. They can write prescriptions for necessary medications.
NPs enjoy the benefits of excellent job security, career growth, autonomy, great pay and the ability to make a difference in a patient’s life. They work in a variety of healthcare settings and 15% of NPs even have their own private practices.
Nurse Practitioner Job Responsibilities
Nurse Practitioners may perform the following job duties. Actual duties may vary by job and location.
- Perform physical exams
- Prescribe medication
- Diagnose illnesses and injuries
- Provide advanced medical treatment
- Order and interpret laboratory and imaging tests
- Educate patients on disease prevention and health management
- Administer immunizations
- Perform invasive procedures
- Manage a patient’s chronic health conditions
Nurse Practitioner Salary
The actual salary of the nurse practitioner can vary substantially depending on region, job description and employer expectations. Most recent data shown.
National average per year: $113,930*
National average per hour: $54.78*
- $270,328 per year, $129.97 per hour**
- $107,590 per year, $51.73 per hour***
- $92,666 per year, $44.55 per hour****
- $107,951 per year, $51.90 per hour*****
* Bureau of Labor Statics
** Indeed.com
*** Payscale.com
**** Salary.com
***** Glassdoor.com
Nurse Practitioner Career Pros and Cons
What are the ups and downs of being a nurse practitioner? Here are a few items to keep in mind.
Pros
- Job stability
- Great salary
- Great career growth
- Flexibility in work hours
- Daily work is interesting and diverse
- ariety of career settings and specialties to work in
- Autonomy
Cons
- Can be mentally challenging
- Daily work can be stressful
- Risk of exposure to infectious diseases
- May have to deal with confused, aggressive and abusive patients and family members
- Potential for malpractice suits
CAREER PATH AND TRAINING
How Do I Become a Nurse Practitioner?
If you are considering a career as a nurse practitioner, here are the steps you will need to complete.
- Obtain your high school diploma/GED.
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and gain clinical experience working as a registered nurse.
- Earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
- Pass a national certification examination in a patient population focus of choice-family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology (acute care/primary care), women’s health/gender-related, neonatal, pediatrics (acute care/primary care) or psychiatric/mental health.
- Obtain state licensure. Requirements vary by state. Visit your state board of nursing for specific requirements.
Suggested Career Path
A nurse practitioner is at the end of the medical career pathway. A sample career path could look like this:
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) > Registered Nurse (RN) > Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Typical Minimum Education
Actual requirements may vary by state. Please check with your state government.
- High school diploma/GED
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree (minimum required)
- Passage of certification exam in chosen patient population focus
- State license
Typical Work Experience Required
Clinical experience as a registered nurse required.
Typical Skills Required
Common skills listed. Actual skills required may vary by location.
- Clinical competence
- Exceptional communication skills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Ability to collaborate and work with a team
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Emotional stability
- Kindness and compassion
- Physical endurance
- Alert and observant
- Confidence
- Patience
- Dedication
- Medical aptitude
Nurse Practitioner Certifications
In order to obtain state licensure, nurse practitioners must pass a national certification examination in their chosen population focus.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and the National Certification Corporation (NCC) all offer the required certification options. These are the options that are available:
- AGPCNP, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AANP)
- ENP, Emergency Nurse Practitioner (AANP)
- FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner (AANP)
- AGACNP-BC, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
- AGPCNP-BC, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
- FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
- PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
- CPNP-PC, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (PNCB)
- CPNP-AC, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care (PNCB)
- NNP-BC, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NCC)
- WHNP-BC, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (NCC)
There are also a variety of voluntary specialty certifications available. Earning a voluntary certification is a great way to highlight your expertise in a clinical area:
- ACHPN, Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (HPCC)
- ACNPC-AG, Acute Care NP Adult-Gero (AACN)
- AOCNP, Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (ONCC)
- CCCN-AP, Certified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (WOCNCB)
- COCN-AP, Certified Ostomy Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (WOCNCB)
- CWCN-AP, Certified Wound Care Nurse-Advanced Practice (WOCNCB)
- CWOCN-AP, Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse-Advanced Practice (WOCNCB)
- C-EFM, Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (NCC)
- C-NPT, Certification in Neonatal Pediatric Transport (NCC)
- CNN-NP, Certified Nephrology Nurse-Nurse Practitioner (NNCC)
- DCNP, Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DNA)
- ONP-C, Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner-Certified (ONCB)
- PMHS, Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PNCB)
Nurse Practitioner Licenses
Licensure is required in all states. Requirements vary by state. Visit your state board of nursing for specific state requirements.
Nurse Practitioner Training and Preparation
Deciding to become a nurse practitioner is a huge step to a life-long and rewarding career. Once you have earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, you must pass a national certification examination in your chosen patient population focus. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and the National Certification Corporation (NCC) all offer certification options.
These certification exams can be very challenging and being prepared and organized can help ensure your success.
There are many ways to prepare for the exams, allowing you to choose the methods that work best for you. There are online and traditional classroom prep courses available. Many organizations offer online tutoring. Review books and flashcards are other helpful tools. Taking practice tests and answering practice questions can help you learn what the questions will be like. The AANP, ANCC, PNCB and NCC websites offer test plans and outlines that can help you organize your studying and learn what you need to focus on.
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