Many nurses want to have more direct contact with the care of their patients.  A great way to do this is by becoming a nurse practitioner.

Overview

A nurse practitioner, also known as an NP, is an advanced practice nurse who is able to provide care to their patients throughout their life.  A nurse practitioner can treat a broad range of patients from the moment of birth until the moment of their death.  A nurse practitioner is able to provide the patient with physical exams, they are able to diagnose health problems, treat illnesses and injuries, complete immunizations, manage chronic health conditions, interpret and order lab tests, prescribe medications, perform medical procedures, and educate the patient regarding their health care.  The nurse practitioner is very different from the nurse because they can do all of these things, including prescribe mediations and controlled substances in all 50 states.  Nurse practitioners also have the ability to practice independently in 25 states.

Working Conditions

Nurse practitioners can work in a wide variety of places and conditions.  Some of the most common are:

● Clinics
● Office practices
● Managed Care
● Hospitals
● Community Heath Centers
● College Campuses
● Employee Health Centers
● Military
● Pharmacies

As you can see, there are a wide number of places that a nurse practitioner can work.  As much as 15% of NP’s have their own practice.   The average salary of a nurse practitioner is $75,000, although this can vary greatly from location to location.  The demand for nurse practitioners is high and in many cases the individual can set their own work schedule.

Academic Requirements

Those who wish to become nurse practitioners will first need to be a registered nurse with graduate education in nursing.  Most nurse practitioners also have a master’s degree, which is another two years on top of a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  At this point you can attend a nurse practitioner program for several semesters.  After graduation from the program one must complete national board exams to be certified.