How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?
The first step in becoming a Nurse Practitioner is to attend a nationally accredited Masters of Science in Nursing program and choose one of the Nurse Practitioner tracks. There was a period of time when a shortage of nurse practitioners led to a relaxation of the requirements to become an NP, meaning that continuing education certification was accepted instead of a full Masters degree. Those certified NPs are still grandfathered in, but the primary path to becoming an NP today is to go through a Masters degree program. As with other roles, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the primary and most respected source of board certifications, offering them for: • Acute Care Nurse Practitioners • Adult Nurse Practitioners • Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioners • Diabetes Management • Family Nurse Practitioners • Family Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioners • Gerontological Nurse Practitioners • Pediatric Nurse Practitioners • School Nurse Practitione
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has received additional medical training so that he or she can diagnose and treat various illnesses. If someone wishes to become a nurse practitioner, he or she will need to first obtain an undergraduate nursing degree from an accredited college or university. The next step is to become a licensed registered nurse (RN). After working for about two years as an RN, the nurse can enroll in a nurse practitioner program. Such programs last for about one to two years. Nurse practitioners can perform medical exams, prescribe medicine, and treat sick patients. On the other hand, they are authorized to provide additional medical services to the public. For example, physical therapy, massage therapy, immunizations, and the performing of various medical procedures are all part of a day’s work for an experienced nurse practitioner. He or she helps to educate patients on how to prevent disease and live healthier lives. If someone wishes to become a nur
NP education builds on a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) and most programs are two years long—resulting in a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN). Some schools have post-masters certificate programs which allow you to focus on a new specialty area after you already have a masters in a different area. Certification comes from passing a national certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners . Like Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Practitioners may practice independently, or they may work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and for various health care agencies. However, while CNSs may function primarily as administrators, researchers, policy-makers, educators or consultants, most NPs function primarily as clinicians. NPs may diagnose and treat a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, interpret lab results, counsel patients, develop treatment plans, and they may prescribe medication. Like CNS, NP
Nurse practitioners must graduate from an accredited B.S.N. (bachelor of science in nursing) program, complete the M.S.N. (master of science in nursing) and pass the national certification board exams. For more information about career options in nursing, visit the Department of Labor Bureau of Health Professions website on nursing. Also be sure to view the School of Nursing’s online web video.
