Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a highly trained healthcare professional who provides advanced medical care across various patient populations, from infants to the elderly. NPs hold a master's degree in nursing and are licensed as registered nurses, enabling them to conduct health assessments, manage chronic illnesses, and prescribe treatments. They often work autonomously or in collaboration with physicians, particularly in diverse healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, and private practices. The role is increasingly important in enhancing healthcare efficiency, allowing physicians to focus on more complex cases while ensuring patients receive timely care.
To become a nurse practitioner, candidates typically start with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, and must pass certification by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. NPs can specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or women's health, and their work often involves educating patients and coordinating with other healthcare professionals. With the growing demand for healthcare services, the job outlook for nurse practitioners is very promising, with a projected employment growth rate that significantly exceeds average trends in other fields.
Nurse Practitioner
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Working with sick or injured people, communicating with others, solving problems
Earnings (Yearly Median): $129,482 per year $62.25 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 40% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Master's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Nurse practitioners work in the medical field, providing healthcare to people from infants to older adults. Nurse practitioners have completed licensure as registered nurses as well as graduate-level training and additional certification, which enables them to perform health assessments and other specialized tasks. They are able to provide more autonomous, specialized, and advanced medical care than those with just a registered nurse degree. There are proposals under consideration that would require nurse practitioners to complete a doctoral degree.
Nurse practitioners conduct physical examinations, manage chronic illnesses, order diagnostic tests, and interpret those tests in order to provide the appropriate medical treatment to patients. Some states require that nurse practitioners perform these duties under the supervision of a physician. The utilization of nurse practitioners is an effective use of staffing resources, as it frees physicians to focus on more serious issues and results in improved medical care for patients.
Work Environment. Nurse practitioners work with other health professionals, such as physicians, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), registered nurses (RNs), and a variety of other support personnel. They can work in private physician practices, hospitals, health clinics, schools, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), nursing homes, and government healthcare organizations. Nurse practitioners often work long and irregular hours, and the job requires them to be on their feet for the majority of the workday.
Occupation Interest. Nurse practitioners can specialize in a variety of specific areas, such as family practice, women’s health, pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, psychiatry, and acute care. The goal is to provide each patient with appropriate, individualized care, so nurse practitioners should be perceptive, flexible, patient, and sensitive to changes in their patients’ conditions. Nurse practitioners also benefit from strong communication and organizational skills, which help them keep abreast of changes in their fast-paced and high-stakes work environment.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Nurse practitioners use their extensive education, diagnostic skills, and training to provide an accurate analysis of patients’ symptoms and test results. Once they have thoroughly assessed a patient, nurse practitioners prescribe the appropriate treatment for the patient’s acute or chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners meet with a variety of patients on a daily basis, discussing their conditions, symptoms, and treatment options. They also conduct physical examinations and patient interviews to obtain their patients’ medical histories in order to provide the appropriate individualized care. This may involve using simple diagnostic tools in the examination room, or it may require the nurse practitioner to order laboratory testing by medical technicians and then interpret the test results.
Nurse practitioners must also educate patients and their families on preventative healthcare measures and health maintenance techniques that will help patients better manage their illness and their recovery. In addition to patient appointments, nurse practitioners regularly communicate with physicians, medical technicians, social workers, RNs, and other healthcare and office personnel to coordinate multiple aspects of patient care. Nurse practitioners also operate in an office setting, documenting patient recommendations, diagnoses, and treatment outcomes.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of diverse environments, including examination rooms, patient homes, and testing and diagnostic rooms. They primarily work in medical offices and hospitals, though they may also work in other environments, such as schools and private homes. Their work with patients may involve contact with human blood and other biohazardous materials, so safety practices must be observed.
Human Environment. Nurse practitioners must have strong interpersonal skills as they work and interact with physicians, medical assistants, medical technicians, nursing assistants, RNs, licensed practical nurses, and patients and their families. Nurse practitioners may work in a general or family practice, where they will work with patients who are diverse in age and gender. Alternatively, they may focus on a specific medical field, such as pediatrics or orthopedics, which could limit the scope of their patients in terms of gender, age, or medical condition.
Technological Environment. Nurse practitioners work with a variety of medical technologies. They may be responsible for ordering and interpreting laboratory test results and other medical exams, such as X-rays and computed axial tomography (CAT) scans. Nurses also use electrodes and other monitors to track their patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital information. They rely heavily on electronic medical records to track their patients’ medical histories, treatment preferences, and other information. Nurses are responsible for regularly updating this information to coordinate patient care with other medical professionals.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students can prepare for a career as a nurse practitioner by taking courses in biology, chemistry, and other science-related subjects. Classes in communication are also helpful. A student interested in becoming a nurse practitioner can also volunteer at a healthcare organization to gain practical experience at an early age.
Postsecondary. Students interested in becoming nurse practitioners should enroll in an accredited nursing program to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Coursework typically includes classes in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, emergency care, and ethics. Aspiring nurse practitioners should then complete a period of residency in order to obtain their licensure as a registered nurse.
A licensed nurse must complete additional coursework and gain clinical experience to become a nurse practitioner. This is typically achieved by completing a two-year Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and obtaining certification from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). At this stage in their education, aspiring nurse practitioners may chose to specialize in a particular area, such as obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, or pediatrics. Nurses who have completed their certification as nurses practitioners will be able to work with more autonomy and increased responsibilities than RNs.
Related Occupations
− Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
− Physician Assistant
Bibliography
"Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 29 Aug. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
"Nurse Practitioner." Cleveland Clinic, 26 Jan. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24651-nurse-practitioner. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages: 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners." Occupational Employment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
"What Is a Nurse Practitioner?" ANA Nursing Resources Hub, 9 Feb. 2024, www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/becoming-a-nurse/what-is-nurse-practitioner/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
"What's a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?" American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2024, www.aanp.org/about/all-about-nps/whats-a-nurse-practitioner. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.