What will I do in this job?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, which enables you to diagnose and manage most common and many chronic illnesses. The NP works either independently or as part of a health care team.
A NP provides a wide range of professional nursing functions which include:
- assessing and diagnosing
- conducting physical examinations
- monitoring patient status
- education and counseling patients
- consulting and collaborating with, and referring to, physicians
NPs are committed to seeking and sharing knowledge that will promote quality health care and improve clinical outcomes by conducting research or applying the research findings of others. NPs need leadership skills, self-confidence, and emotional stability.
NPs focus on health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and education in a wide variety of settings. With a strong emphasis on primary care, NP’s are employed within several specialties, including neonatology, nurse midwifery, pediatrics; school health family and adult health, women’s health, mental health, home care geriatrics, and acute care.
Will I need a special license?
If you want to be a Nurse Practitioner, you will need National Certification and a State License.
What type of education do I need?
Completion of approved Nurse Practitioner (usually Master’s level) and 50 hours continuing education every 2 years.
Will I find a job?
Employment opportunities are expected to be good, particularly in hospitals, academic medical centers, public clinics, prisons, and rural and inner city clinics. Employment of Nurse Practitioner is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006.
How much will I make?
Median Salary: $66,809 (Ranges from $62,000- $73,000)
(2000-2003)
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