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If you’re interested in working in a highly-specialized medical career, you may want to investigate your options within the nurse practitioner (NP) field. More and more, nurse practitioners are replacing primary care physicians as the first step in patient care. There’s no need to quit your job or travel to another city to get your college degree. In fact, you can become a nurse practitioner online.
NPs are essentially registered nurses who perform many of the same functions as physicians by examining, diagnosing, and treating patients in a variety of clinical settings. Nurse practitioners can also prescribe medication for their patients; however, in some states they are not permitted to prescribe narcotics like painkillers and other addictive medications. Because they can perform many of the same functions that physicians do, they are required to have advanced training and certification.
Nurse practitioners must pass state certification exams as well as national certification exams administered through the Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of settings from private practices to emergency rooms. Some nurse practitioners work as generalists while others specialize in specific patient populations.
Individuals are attracted to this career because nurse practitioners customarily perform many of the same duties as physicians but take the extra time needed during office visits to get to know their patients. Patients who go to NPs for their medical care often appreciate the extra time that nurse practitioners take to listen to the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and concerns.
Nurse practitioners have many employment options available and may work in a variety of specialty areas:
• Acute Care
• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatrics (including sub-specialty areas)
• Adult Health
• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Oncology
• Gerontology
• Women’s Health
• Occupational Health
The possibilities for nurse practitioners, however, are far more extensive than the limited list of specialty areas listed above.
How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Earn?
Because of the highly-specialized nature of this career, nurse practitioners earn at the upper level of the pay scale for most nursing careers, excluding but not limited to nurses with doctoral degrees.
Salaries can vary widely, depending on the state where the NP is employed and years of experience in the field. For instance, nurse practitioners with less than one year of experience may earn between $61,000 and $75,000, depending on the state of residence and type of medical facility. NPs with more than 20 years of experience may earn from $72,000 to $88,000.
Start Your NP Career Today
You can become a nurse practitioner online by contacting your college of choice, applying for admission, and, if needed, completing the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid, called the FAFSA, online. Once you’ve been accepted, a rewarding and high-paying career as a nurse practitioner is well within your reach.
