Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Like a registered nurse (RN), a nurse practitioner (NP) performs many duties that involve examination and treatment of a patient. However, in most states, the NP is licensed to prescribe medications and may perform many of the same tasks as a physician. This would include diagnosing patient conditions without the supervision of an attending physician. NPs also may act as primary-care providers, a role that is denied to the RN.

Prerequisites for Becoming an NP

To become an NP, the individual must first become an RN. Once licensed as an RN. While a student can become an RN through a hospital diploma and an associate’s degree, the fast track to the NP is through the BSN, or bachelor’s degree in nursing. The reason behind this logic is that the NP must acquire a master’s degree, and the quickest route to that degree is the completion of a BSN and licensure as an RN. Many NP programs might require two years of work experience before applications are approved.

The training to become an NP typically last about two years and leads to a minimum of a master’s degree. Once the required education and training is complete, the NP candidate must pass a national exam to be licensed.

How to become an NP

Every state will maintain different requirements for practice as an NP. In New York, for instance, anyone who uses the title, “Nurse Practitioner,” must meet stringent licensure and educational standards. Plus, a New York nurse practitioner is certified to practice specifically in one specialty area unless that NP submits separate applications and fees for each specialty and demonstrates meeting requirements for each specialty application. New York also lists a number of qualifying educational institutions that it will approve for that state. This is why it is important for RNs to check state regulations before applying to an NP educational program, as the wrong program could lead to a true waste of time, money and talent.

Careers Available After Becoming an NP

The NP can specialize in family, pediatric, adult, geriatric, women’s health, neonatal care, acute care, occupational health and more. Some NPs serve as certified nurse midwives or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Outside hospital-based practices such as neonatal and acute care, the NP can practice in outpatient settings or make visits to homes to see patients.

The NP can earn an average annual income of $86,464 upwards, depending upon work environment, location and experience. This jump in salary from RN (average $52,000 per year) to NP makes the further education worthwhile, especially to nurses who want to shoulder more responsibility. With increasing health care costs across the board, many medical institutions are hiring NPs instead of doctors, because the NP is less costly while being just as effective. While this financial acumen may seem demeaning, the real reason many people are seeking NPs for health care is that the NP, unlike many doctors, seek to work with the person as a whole, rather than treat the injury or illness as a sole factor in the barrier to good health.

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Top 10 Online Nursing Schools

RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Administration More...	Kaplan University — Bachelor's, and Master's Nursing Degrees. Kaplan's School of Nursing offers specializations for nurse administrators and nurse educators.
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BS in Nursing MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — RN to BSN Degree and MSN Degree. The Department of Nursing at Liberty prepares students for baccalaureate level nursing, putting strong emphasis on Christian ethical standards and viewing nursing as a ministry of caring.
MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - CNS/Educator MSN - Nurse Administrator More...	University of Cincinnati — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing prepares its nursing students for working with 21st century healthcare technologies to improve patient quality and administer healthcare procedures.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — MSN and BSN. Because of the Web-based education that Chamberlain provides, students are able to earn their nursing degree at their own pace. From Chamberlain, students can choose from either a bachelor's degree level or master's degree level, depending on previous experience.
LPN to BSN RN to BSN	Indiana State University — LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. Indiana State offers concentrations in the areas of family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Educator PhD - Nurse Educator More...	Capella University — BSN, MSN, and PhD in Nursing Education. Capella prides itself on being an accredited online college. With its nurse education programs, Capella offers two levels, master's and PhD. Either is optimal for the working nurse who wants to enter a role as educator in the field.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership More...	Grand Canyon University — BS in Nursing (BSN) and MBA/MS in Nursing. Grand Canyon University offers a unique MBA/MS in nursing degree program that teaches students about the business aspect of healthcare, specifically nursing healthcare. Current nurses who want more business experience will find this may be an ideal fit.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing MSN - Nurse Education More...	South University — RN to BSN and MS in Nursing. The nursing programs at South University prepares its student for professions in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and school health clinics.
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