Rozina Aziz Becoming an advanced practice nurse typically takes six to eight years of study. However, your current qualifications and level of education will play a significant role in determining how long it takes you to complete the process.
A nurse practitioner is a highly educated medical health with extensive experience and expertise in care to patients. Such knowledge is highly valued by employers but may be difficult to acquire. You’ll have a much clearer idea of whether or not this is the correct path for you once you’ve got a firmer grasp of the fascinating vocation and its place in the healthcare field.
What is a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a type of APRN who has completed advanced education in nursing and is licensed to practice medicine. N.P.s can evaluate patients, make diagnoses, and recommend treatments. When diagnosing and treating patients, N.P.s do many of the same tasks as M.D.s and should not be confused with registered nurses (RN).
However, in some areas, N.P.s require a physician’s prescription before dispensing medication, a privilege enjoyed by M.D.s throughout.
What does a nurse practitioner do?
A nurse practitioner is a licensed medical professional with substantial authority to assess and treat patients. Nurse practitioners can conduct patient examinations, diagnose issues, and prescribe medication or treatment if necessary.
Nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 20 US states and are given an abilitieset comparable to physicians. In certain states, they can provide care without the supervision of a doctor. In some states, nurse practitioners are allowed to independently provide care without the supervision of a doctor.
Nurse practitioners in other states don’t just have the authority to do more than other kinds of nurses, they must also be managed by a doctor or other healthcare professional with even higher qualifications!
Nurse practitioners may specialize in a variety of areas, with duties that may vary depending on their field of work and place of employment. Some common specialties are…
- Neonatal medicine
- Acute care
- Family care
- Pediatric care
- Women’s healthcare
- Psychiatric mental health care
Additionally, a nurse practitioner may receive training in several subspecialties, including:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Emergency room
- Dermatology
- Geriatrics
- Hospice
- Occupational health
- Surgical
- Sports medicine
- Urology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pulmonology/respiratory
Nurse practitioners typically perform similar duties, regardless of the speciality they work in, such as:
- Provide primary care to patients
- Take patient medical histories
- Discuss symptoms
- Order and administer any diagnostic tests
- Provide diagnoses based on findings
- Monitor patients’ health and progress
- Prescribe medications and treatment
- Monitor and use medical equipment
- Create patient treatment plans
- Work as part of a healthcare team to provide comprehensive patient care
How long does it take to be a nurse practitioner?
Many universities and colleges offer courses that prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. While a nurse practitioner is not required to become a registered nurse, doing so can be helpful due to the availability of part-time work in local hospitals.
Students need four years to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then pass the NCLEX-PN certification exam before entering the advanced nurse nursing field (BSN).
A BSN degree in nursing is the bare minimum requirement. To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to get your master’s degree and complete a specialty program. The degrees are referred to as N.P. degrees (for “nurse practitioner”). The time it takes to earn an N.P. degree varies.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) play various roles in health delivery. To name a few examples of these responsibilities:
- Diagnosing medical conditions and administering health
- Diagnostic procedures, including ordering, conducting, and analyzing tests
- Collecting specimens, like blood, for testing
- Dispensing prescriptions (in some states)
- Patient counseling
- Suturing a wound, among other less sophisticated medical procedures
- The importance of patient education on health-related topics and behavioral modifications
What are the educational requirements to become a nurse practitioner?
To private practice as a nurse practitioner, one must have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. Therefore, becoming a nurse practitioner typically requires six to eight years of study.
Get a bachelor’s degree:
Bachelor’s degree holders in nursing are eligible to apply to master’s and doctorate degree programs. Even though a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is typically required for admission to graduate nursing programs, those without a BSN may still be considered for admission.
Become a Registered Nurse
Being a registered nurse is a prerequisite for practicing as a nurse practitioner. Registered nurses typically need to complete either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, or an authorized nursing program; however, these specific requirements can vary by state. If you want to take the National Council Licensure
For Registered Nurses’ examinations, you should get in touch with your state’s nursing regulatory body (NRB) to determine what steps you need to take to become eligible (NCLEX-RN). A candidate may sit for the NCLEX-RN once they have fulfilled all prerequisites established by their state. Remember that the NCLEX-RN isn’t a test of your ability to memorize information but to think critically and make well-considered decisions, so study up!
Get a Master’s Degree in Nursing:
To become an N.P., you need either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP Degree) from an accredited university. Students who commit to the full two years of study required for an MSN have a more in-depth understanding of healthcare informatics and evidence-based procedures, among other areas.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the highest academic achievement in nursing. Its curriculum builds on that of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) while also emphasizing leadership skills.
Depending on the individual’s background and level of education, it could take anywhere from 18 months to 4 years to finish. Your personal and professional priorities should determine whether you enroll in an MSN or DNP program. You can practice nursing as a nurse practitioner with either type of degree.
Obtain a license:
After finishing a degree program, you can take one of the tests that lead to a nurse practitioner license. One is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), while the other is administered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
It is sufficient to take and pass either the ANCC or the AANP exam to get licensed as a nurse practitioner in your state, despite their respective foci being slightly different (the ANCC being more research-oriented and the AANP being more clinical experiences).
What type of work environment do Nurse Practitioners have?
Most nurse practitioners find employment at clinics, medical facilities, and general practitioners’ offices. Specialists among nurse practitioners, such as those in pediatrics and obstetrics, are more likely to go into business for themselves.
Nurse practitioners are healthcare providers who analyze patient records and do physical examinations. They’re not just there to listen; they’re also there to diagnose and suggest remedies.
For example, many common illnesses and injuries can be treated by a nurse practitioner (NP) rather than requiring a physician’s (M.D.) ‘s attention. Moreover, their ability to prescribe drugs is severely constrained.
What is the average salary and job prospects of a nurse practitioner?
Opportunities for N.P.s are expected to increase rapidly in the future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 45-percent (far faster than average) increase in demand for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners between 2020 and 2030 [1]. But between 2020 and 2030, the BLS predicts a 7.7 percent growth in employment across the United States.
It’s safe to assume that the great earning potential will coincide with the strong demand. In 2020, the typical compensation for a nurse practitioner was $120,680, which was significantly more than the median salary for all Americans, $35,805.
Is being a Nurse Practitioner a Good Career Choice?
Ultimately, only you can decide which job path is best for you. Becoming a nurse practitioner, however, can be a great option if you enjoy helping people, are curious about the dynamics of healthcare from a nursing perspective, and need a stable income. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts and data from other sources like U.S.
News and World Report suggests that employment and wage growth should be relatively stable for the foreseeable future. The following facts should further help in your decision-making process.
Conclusion
Becoming a nurse practitioner is a great career choice for those who enjoy helping people and are interested in the dynamics of health care provider from a nursing perspective. It typically takes 18 months to 4 years to complete an MSN or DNP program and obtain a license, after which a nurse practitioner can find employment at clinics, medical facilities, and general practitioners’ offices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities for NPs will increase rapidly in the future and they can expect to earn an average salary of $120,680 per year.
