How to become a better nurse practitioner

An NP is an APRN who has earned either a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a Master of Science in Nursing and is licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner. They’re versatile enough to work as primary care doctors or specialists. Learn more about what nurse practitioners perform, salary expectations, and more with this comprehensive resource.

Nurse practitioners are in a position of greater responsibility and authority than registered nurses. Primary and specialized care physicians often specialize in treating a particular age group or kind of patient, such as children, adolescents, or the elderly. As doctors, they prioritize keeping their patients healthy and preventing illness whenever possible.How to become a better nurse practitioner

Achieve Academic Success

To become a nurse practitioner, one must graduate from an accredited nursing program. Associate degree programs in nursing are provided at some universities, while nursing Bachelor of Science degree programs are offered at others. Medical terminology, biology, physiology and human anatomy courses are sometimes required for nursing students.

Get Your Nursing License

Passing the National Council Licensure Test for Registered Nurses is required for RN licensure after completion of an accredited associate’s or bachelor’s degree nursing program. Practical experience gained while working as a registered nurse is excellent preparation for a career as a nurse practitioner. Registered nurses have an advantage when applying for nurse practitioner positions.

Consider the Setting in Which You Work

A nurse practitioner may find employment in any healthcare setting, from an inpatient hospital to an outpatient clinic to a private practice. Some nurse practitioner employment includes night, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours in addition to the typical Monday-Friday workweek. It’s essential to consider the type of workplace environment you want before searching for jobs. Depending on where you work, you may see different kinds of patients, have less or more direct medical supervision, and have different schedule expectations.

Attain Certification in a Subspecialty and NP Certification

To practice, NPs must have APRN certification. All states require a national board certification examination in the applicant’s speciality area. For instance, if you want to specialize as a family practitioner nurse, you must attain an online BSN to FNP program, which could teach critical knowledge for family nursing care. Advanced practice nurses’ overall competence and understanding of special populations are tested in these tough exams administered by approved certifying bodies. Exams can only be taken for majors in which a candidate has a degree.

Find a Job

NPs can find employment in a range of contexts. Top job locations include urgent care centers, private medical practices, hospital inpatient and outpatient departments, and hospital outpatient departments. NPs also work in emergency rooms, corporate clinics, rural health clinics, federally designated health centers, and community health centers. Many hospitals provide NPs with paid fellowship opportunities that let them rotate across specialities with the chance of receiving an employment offer at the conclusion. As a recent graduate, these scholarships offer a fantastic entry point into the NP job market.

Nurse practitioners have completed post-graduate education in a specific subspecialty of nursing, such as women’s health, mental health, pediatrics, neonatal care, family nurse practice, and adult-gerontology. Nurse practitioners work in various settings, including inpatient and outpatient clinics, hospitals, and general practices. An RN’s earning power and prospects for professional growth can benefit from further education leading to nursing practitioner certification. Graduates of the rigorous six-year master’s degree program required to become a nurse practitioner generally agree that it was time well spent.