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A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who provides primary and specialty care to patients and families. As an NP, you're able to examine and diagnose patients, prescribe medication, recommend treatment, make referrals and give independent individualized care while promoting good health and disease prevention.
Nurse Practitioner Education: Prerequisites
The fact that an NP doesn't have to put in as many years as a physician does not mean the career is a snap. The journey begins with becoming a registered nurse (RN) and that in itself takes lots of education and training. An NP career requires at least a master's degree to be able to do clinical and diagnostic tasks usually associated with a physician.
In high school, an interest in math and science gets a nursing candidate off to a good start while a diploma plus a high grade point average is an advantage. Passing the SAT or ACT exams is also a standard requirement to enter college.
Becoming an RN, in preparation for becoming an NP, offers insight, training and practical experience in practicing medicine. That means you have to do the necessary degree work, either an associate's degree continuing on to a bachelor's or attending a four-year college. Once you have the bachelor's degree, another two or more years of actual RN experience is required to get hands-on experience and a feel for the career.
Nurse Practitioner Education Requirements: Coursework
To become an NP, you'll need to earn a master's degree in nursing (MSN). There's no short cut in time and effort. However, there are online schools that can give you the education and training you need to gain NP licensure. An online school can also provide facilities where actual clinical experience is obtained.
Courses required to become an RN/NP are too numerous to list, but often include:
Upon graduation, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse. If unsuccessful, the exam may be taken as many times as necessary.
Nurse Practitioner Education Requirements: Specializations
With the exception of hospital-based acute and neonatal care, most NP positions are ambulatory, meaning you work in an outpatient setting. These settings can be quite varied, involving pediatric or family practice and may even include house calls in rural areas.
It's important to note that just as with RN specialization, NP careers are also specialized in fields such as:
After completing your NP training, you'll be eligible to sit for a nationally recognized examination in your specialty and become certified. The two largest certifying boards are the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The AANP Certification Program offers national certification examinations for those wanting to work as certified adult, gerontology or family nurse practitioners. You'll also need to become certified in the state where you plan to work.
Resources for Nurse Practitioners:
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