Life As 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.
Life As a Nurse Practitioner (NP): What Do They Do?
- Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
- Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.
- Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.
- Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
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Skills Needed to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
When polled, Nurse Practitioners say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Nurse Practitioner (NP) Job Titles
- Nurse Practitioner, Adult
- Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Electrophysiology Nurse Practitioner
- Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LNP)
Are There Job Opportunities 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. There will be an estimated 14,400 positions for Nurse Practitioner (NP) per 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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Nurse Practitioners in different U.S. states.
| 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Nurse Practitioners
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
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- SOAPware EMR
- e-MDs software
How do I Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
What kind of Nurse Practitioner requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Nurse Practitioners Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
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