Nurse Practitioner Education and Career Pathway

This post provides detailed information on the nurse practitioner education and career pathway, including the educational requirements you are expected to fulfill to become a nurse practitioner, and how to be successful in your career.

Why Choose Nurse Practitioner Career?

The nurse practitioner career path provides you with the opportunity to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, schools, home health agencies, private practices, managed care organizations, and other community-based settings.

The reasons to choose a nurse practitioner career include:

1. Advancement opportunities

As a nurse practitioner, you can advance your career by obtaining specialized certification or licensure.

For example, you may become certified as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or become licensed as a Physician Assistant (PA).

You also have the option of becoming board certified in certain areas, such as Family Practice, Internal Medicine, or Pediatrics.

2. Flexibility

A nurse practitioner works independently at the direction of his/her supervising physician. This means that you are able to provide more patient centered care than some other healthcare providers.

3. Work-life balance

NPs often work part time because they do not want to give up the benefits of working for themselves. They enjoy being independent and having flexibility in their schedule.

4. Income potential

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for nurse practitioners was $101,130.

5. Growth potential

There is great growth potential in the nurse practitioner field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for nurse practitioners is expected to grow 16% from 2010 to 2020.

Nurse Practitioner Education Requirements

In order to be eligible for the nurse practitioner certification program, you must first complete a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Most programs require students to earn a minimum of 60 semester hours in order to graduate.

Some programs offer accelerated completion options which allow students to finish their degrees faster.

After completing the Bachelor’s degree, you must then enroll in one of the following nurse practitioner programs:

• Master’s degree programs
• Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Doctorate of Nursing Science (DSN)
• Masters of Health Administration (MHA)
• Masters of Public Health (MPH)
• Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC)
• Advanced Practice RN (APRN)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
• Clinical Specialist (CS)
• Clinical Specialist – Acute Care (CSAC)
• Clinical Specialist – Mental Health (CSMH)
• Clinical Specialist – Primary Care (CSPC)
• Clinical Specialist – Women’s Health (CSWH).

Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education

You will need to maintain continuing education credits throughout your career. These credits help ensure that you stay current on new developments in your profession.

In addition, it allows you to renew your license every two years. To meet this requirement, you should take courses related to your practice area.

The American Nurses Association recommends taking 15 contact hours per year.

Nurse Practitioner Certification/License

Licensure requirements vary depending on where you live. However, most states require nurses who wish to practice in another state to obtain an appropriate license before doing so.

If you plan on moving to another state, then you should check with your licensing agency about what steps you need to take.

The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) offers certification as a nurse practitioner through its organization.

You can find out if there are any certifications available by contacting them directly.

Nurse Practitioner Career Opportunities

There are various career opportunities available to a nurse practitioner, including:

1. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

The cardiac nurse practitioner is responsible for providing primary care services to patients with heart disease.

They diagnose illness and injuries, prescribe medications, manage chronic conditions, and refer patients to other health professionals when necessary.

2. Critical Care Nurse Practitioner

Critical care nurse practitioners work in intensive care units or emergency departments. They provide comprehensive medical care to critically ill patients.

They also perform procedures such as intubation, chest tube insertion, central line placement, and endotracheal suctioning.

3. Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners work primarily with children and adolescents. Their focus is on preventive medicine and wellness.

They may treat minor illnesses and injuries, make referrals to specialists, and administer immunizations.

4. Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

Geriatric Nurse Practitioners specialize in caring for older adults. They assess their overall health status and determine which treatments are best suited for each patient.

They also educate patients about healthy living habits and teach them how to prevent falls and other complications associated with aging.

5. Home Visiting Nurse Practitioner

Home visiting nurse practitioners visit patients at home to evaluate their physical and emotional needs.

They then develop plans to address these problems. They may recommend changes in diet, lifestyle, exercise, and medication.

6. Hospice Nurse Practitioner

Hospice nurse practitioners assist people facing death. They coordinate end-of-life care and promote comfort during the final stages of life.

Other career opportunities that nurse practitioners can explore include:

• Infectious Disease Nurse Practitioner
• Intensive Care Nurse Practitioner
• Medical Surgical Nurse Practitioner
• Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Oncology Nurse Practitioner.

How to Advance your Nurse Practitioner Career

Follow these tips to advance your nurse practitioner career:

1. Become familiar with the latest developments in healthcare. Read journals that cover the field.

2. Attend continuing education courses offered by local schools, hospitals, and professional associations.

3. Take advantage of opportunities to travel. This will help you gain experience and broaden your knowledge base.

4. Join a professional association. Membership gives you access to information about new trends and advances in nursing. It also provides networking opportunities.

5. Be willing to take risks. Try something different, even if it means taking a chance on yourself. You never know what might happen.

6. Stay current with technology. Technology can be used to your advantage. For example, an online subscription to a journal allows you to read articles from around the world without having to leave your house.

7. Network. Ask colleagues and friends for advice on how they got where they are today. Find out who they think has been successful in advancing their careers.

How to find a Good Nurse Practitioner School

Here are some ideas you can use to find a good school for the nurse practitioner training:

1. Visit websites of accredited schools near you. Check their accreditation status.

2. Look into the reputation of the school. Is it well respected? Does it have a strong alumni network?

3. Contact the school directly. Ask questions about its curriculum, faculty, and clinical experiences.

4. Consider the size of the class. Small classes allow students more one-on-one attention. Larger classes offer a wider variety of experiences.

5. Think about whether or not you prefer a traditional classroom setting or a hybrid model (online learning).

6. Determine if the program is part time or full time. Part time programs allow you to work while attending school.

How to be Successful in your Nurse Practitioner Career

Here are some ideas to help you succeed in your nurse practitioner career:

1. Get involved

Participate in activities outside of the classroom, such as sports teams, student government, and community service projects.

2. Keep up with the latest news in healthcare

Read journals and magazines that cover the field. Subscribe to newsletters that keep you informed about changes in healthcare policy and practice.

3. Learn to manage stress

Stress affects everyone at times. However, when it becomes chronic, it can affect your health and performance.

Learn ways to cope with stress so that it doesn’t interfere with your ability to do your job effectively.

4. Don’t let negative thoughts get in the way of your success

If you believe that you won’t succeed, don’t give up. Instead, focus on positive things that you can control.

5. Set goals

Know what you want to accomplish and then set deadlines for reaching those goals.

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

A nurse practitioner works closely with patients in order to provide comprehensive care.

They diagnose illness and injuries, prescribe medications, perform physical exams, and counsel patients regarding lifestyle choices.

Qualities of a Good Nurse Practitioner

Here are qualities a good nurse practitioner should have:

1. Knowledgeable about the body’s systems

A nurse practitioner should know anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, genetics, epidemiology, and nutrition.

2. Well organized

A nurse practitioner’s office should be neat and orderly. She/he needs to have a system for organizing patient charts and records.

3. Patient focused

The nurse practitioner must listen carefully to her/his patients and take an active role in helping them understand their conditions.

4. Professional

A nurse practitioner must be able to communicate clearly and professionally with staff members, physicians, insurance companies, and patients.

5. Self-motivated

A nurse practitioner has to be willing to learn new skills and techniques and apply them to his/her practice.

Nurse Practitioner Salary

According to Salary.com, the starting income for a nurse practitioner ranges from $106,715 to $124,937 per year, with an average starting salary of $115,005.

Nurse Practitioner Job Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is expected to expand 45 percent between 2020 and 2030, substantially faster than the national average.

Conclusion

The nurse practitioner profession offers many opportunities for advancement and growth. It requires knowledge of medicine and science, excellent communication skills, and a strong desire to help others.

If you are interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, this post has provided the educational requirements you will need to fulfill to qualify to practice.

It also presented other information to help you learn about the nurse practitioner and succeed in your career.