Life As a Nurse Practitioner
Occupation 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.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Responsibilities
- Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.
- Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).
- Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients’ individual circumstances.
- Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
- Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.
- Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.
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Skills Needed to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse Practitioners state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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
- Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner
- Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
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.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Average Salary
Nurse Practitioners make between $78,300 and $150,320 a year.
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 |
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 to Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Education needed to be a Nurse Practitioner:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
Where do Nurse Practitioners Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
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