Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is an excellent way to enter the medical industry and find a rewarding career.

If you choose to become a Nurse Practitioner, you’ll enter a vast world in which you provide vital assistance to patients and doctors alike. This can be a tremendous career choice for those dedicated to providing patients with the utmost in quality care, as well as a great choice for anyone seeking an in-demand job that is predicted to skyrocket in the near future.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Understanding exactly what this type of medical professional is and does is vital. You’ll find that Nurse Practitioners provide quality care in a wide variety of different settings. NPs actually perform duties similar in nature to those of an actual doctor. Nurse Practitioners can be found providing disease prevention techniques, clinical care, counseling, health education and more.

In addition, you will find Nurse Practitioners operating in a wide range of different environments. They might work in the local hospital, with a doctor’s office, or even within the school system (both high school and college). They provide vital assistance in the home health industry, work in outpatient services and provide help within nursing homes and long-term care facilities. In short, anywhere there is a need for skilled medical assistance, nurse practitioners can be found.

Educational requirements for a Nurse Practitioner

What education requirements exist for NPs? You will discover that a Nurse Practitioner must have an advanced degree, usually a master’s degree. However, some nurses actually have a doctorate, and many go on to research or teaching.

In addition to completing a master’s degree program, nurse practitioners must be licensed. This is true in all states within the United States. This is done through the completion of the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse) examination. Some licensing entities include the American Medical Association, the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) and the AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners).

The outlook for Nurse Practitioner positions

As mentioned previously, the field for this type of nursing specialist is expected to grow considerably in the coming years. According to the federal government, the area experiencing the fastest growth will be in private practices, followed by home healthcare providers and outpatient care facilities.  Nursing homes fall at the bottom of the growth list, with only a 20 percent increase expected.

Other resources

You can visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more about Nurse Practitioner options.
Check out PremedGuide.com for information about Nurse Practitioner employment.
You can find more information about Nurse Practitioner education at Education-Portal.com.

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