Nurse practitioners are some of the most highly educated people in the nursing profession. They are often responsible for the primary care of patients in states that give NPs full practice authority and have the medical authority to administer drugs and fluids. Nurse practitioners often specialize in areas of obstetrics or pediatrics. Because of the in-depth training required to become a nurse practitioner and the educational requirements to become licensed, many years of formal education are required beyond high school.
It usually takes at least 6 to 8 years of education and training to become an NP. There are programs designed to train registered nurses at many colleges and universities, and these programs are aimed at helping graduates pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
A nurse practitioner doesn't need to become a registered nurse, but it can help because of the part-time work that will be available at local hospitals while continuing with the educational requirements. The 4-year degree must be in nursing at a minimum. After earning your BSN, you'll need to complete a master's degree program that trains nurse practitioners.
These are called Nurse Practitioner NP degrees. NP degrees can take 2 to 4 years. The extensive educational requirements to become an NP can resemble the requirements for physicians. This is because nurse practitioners can have many of the same duties as physicians, including the administering of primary care. Nurse Practitioner degree programs also include a significant amount of clinical work, which is why NP degree programs can take 2 to 4 years beyond earning a 4-year BSN degree.
In addition to completing the NP degree coursework, new NPs must become licensed by the state in which they plan to practice by passing a state-specific NP exam.
Most nurse practitioners work in hospitals, medical centers or the offices of family physicians. Some nurse practitioners establish their own practices, especially those who specialize in fields such as pediatrics or obstetrics.
The duties and responsibilities of nurse practitioners include interpreting medical histories and performing physical examinations. They also provide diagnoses and recommend treatments. NPs are often responsible for treating medical conditions that do not require a specialist such as common medical conditions and injuries.
They also have a limited authority to prescribe medications. There are some misconceptions about the amount of training a nurse practitioner must achieve and the amount of educational background needed to become an NP. Many people might hear the term "nurse practitioner" and assume that the position is the same as any other nurse. They don't realize that nurse practitioners are required to spend several years in a postsecondary educational environment. There can also be a misconception in the general public that nurse practitioners can only be very specialized in a particular branch of nursing.
Find your next nurse practitioner job or visit the Nurse Practitioner Career Center. Toggle navigation Home Toggle search. Job Seekers. Looking for a new job? Confirm Specialties. Research Assistant 0. Administration 3. Adult Gerontology Primary Care Anesthesiology 2. Cardiology Cardiothoracic Surgery Cardiovascular Surgery 6. Critical Care Dermatology 5. Emergency Medicine Endocrinology Family Medicine Gastroenterology General Hematology Hospice Care 7.
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Cardiac Rehabilitation - RN 0. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation - RN 0. Cardiovascular OR - RN 0. Community Health-RNs 0. Coronary Care Unit - RN 0. Critical Care-RNs 0. Day Surgery - RN 0. These duties include:. Becoming a nurse practitioner can take anywhere from six to eight years of education and training. The steps that an individual must take to become a nurse practitioner, and the time each step takes to complete, are as follows:.
The first step to becoming a nurse practitioner is to complete a registered nurse program. This can be done by obtaining an associate degree, bachelor's degree or a diploma in a nursing program. A diploma or associate degree can take anywhere from two to three years to complete, whereas a bachelor's nursing program typically takes four years.
These five different types of bachelor's degrees can be pursued to become a nurse practitioner:. This program is for individuals who are already either licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can be pursued by individuals with no prior experience or licensure in the nursing field.
This degree typically takes four years to complete. This program is for registered nurses who currently hold an associate degree or diploma and typically takes two years to complete.
This is a fast-track option for individuals wishing to complete their BSN in a shorter amount of time. The accelerated BSN program typically takes 12 to 20 months to complete. This degree option is for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in a different field and are looking to make a career change. This program can typically be completed in two years.
Common courses included in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree include genetics and genomics, physical and health examination, and disease prevention. After completing an undergraduate nursing program and obtaining an RN license, aspiring nurse practitioners must then complete a Master of Science in Nursing MSN. Common areas of study for this degree include primary care practitioner, family nurse practitioner, women's health practitioner and neonatal medicine.
An MSN program can take anywhere from two to three years to complete. Common courses in a Master of Science in Nursing program include health care ethics, clinical practicum, health care policy and advanced concepts in pharmacology.
Related: 10 Highest Paid Nursing Jobs. The amount of time it takes to study for and pass this exam can vary but most individuals complete this in under a year. A specialization may also be required for nurse practitioners who plan to work in certain areas of the medical industry. Step 4: At this stage, most nurse practitioners take one or two years to obtain advanced experience in the health care environment. This may be required for certain advanced certification options.
Step 5: A national certification is commonly required for nurse practitioners. These professional credentials may require a standardized test; for example, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners offers certification based on education, experience and the successful completion of a computer-based examination.
By completing these steps, aspiring nurse practitioners can achieve success in their chosen career path. Students who opt to pursue a BSN rather than an associates degree or a certificate program as their initial step can generally go directly to the later steps in the process outlined above.
By moving directly to the BSN without intermediary certification or associates degree programs, nurses can streamline the process and may be able to begin their career as a nurse practitioner more quickly. The nursing field has proven to be a highly rewarding and stable career path for those who are looking to obtain a BSN degree.
In order to further compete in this aggressive job market, many seek to further their specializations by pursuing a degree as a nurse practitioner. There are various types of nurse practitioners who focus on specific areas of treatment and illnesses, below are some of the most popular types of nurse practitioners.
Students can start their educational journey toward licensure and practice in the nursing field at a top nurse practitioner school, like Gwynedd Mercy University. The programs and guidance available at this elite institution can provide real support for aspiring nurse practitioners in the modern educational environment. Contact our Admissions office today at or send an email to accelerate gmercyu.
We look forward to the chance to help you achieve your career goals.
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