What Does it Take to Be a Nurse Practitioner?
Position Description Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do On a Daily Basis?
- Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).
- Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
- Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.
- Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.
- Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.
- Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.
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What a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Should Know
These are the skills Nurse Practitioners say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Medical Surgery Nurse
- Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)
Is There Going to be Demand for Nurse Practitioners?
In the United States, there were 155,500 jobs for Nurse Practitioner in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 36.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 56,100 new jobs for Nurse Practitioner by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Nurse Practitioner (NP) are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Nebraska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
The typical yearly salary for Nurse Practitioners is somewhere between $78,300 and $150,320.
Nurse Practitioners who work in California, Hawaii, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nurse Practitioners make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $95,970 |
| Alaska | $122,880 |
| Arizona | $110,750 |
| Arkansas | $104,300 |
| California | $133,780 |
| Colorado | $111,210 |
| Connecticut | $118,020 |
| Delaware | $108,340 |
| District of Columbia | $109,800 |
| Florida | $101,100 |
| Georgia | $106,750 |
| Hawaii | $120,570 |
| Idaho | $102,600 |
| Illinois | $105,800 |
| Indiana | $103,200 |
| Iowa | $106,290 |
| Kansas | $99,430 |
| Kentucky | $99,790 |
| Louisiana | $105,340 |
| Maine | $103,220 |
| Maryland | $115,060 |
| Massachusetts | $122,740 |
| Michigan | $106,880 |
| Minnesota | $119,160 |
| Mississippi | $109,700 |
| Missouri | $102,470 |
| Montana | $103,510 |
| Nebraska | $103,800 |
| Nevada | $112,540 |
| New Hampshire | $109,460 |
| New Jersey | $122,100 |
| New Mexico | $109,810 |
| New York | $120,970 |
| North Carolina | $104,100 |
| North Dakota | $106,200 |
| Ohio | $101,970 |
| Oklahoma | $103,280 |
| Oregon | $110,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,250 |
| Rhode Island | $109,290 |
| South Carolina | $99,910 |
| South Dakota | $100,690 |
| Tennessee | $95,990 |
| Texas | $111,060 |
| Utah | $105,840 |
| Vermont | $106,000 |
| Virginia | $105,170 |
| Washington | $117,650 |
| West Virginia | $100,690 |
| Wisconsin | $106,790 |
| Wyoming | $116,030 |
What Tools do Nurse Practitioners Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nurse Practitioners may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft SharePoint
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- eClinicalWorks
- e-MDs software
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- SOAPware EMR
How do I Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
Education needed to be a Nurse Practitioner:
What work experience do I need to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
Who Employs Nurse Practitioners?
Below are examples of industries where Nurse Practitioners work:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
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