Each year, Americans make more than 916 million visits to a nurse practitioner for their healthcare needs, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Nurse practitioners, or advanced practice registered nurses, are essentially RNs who undergo additional schooling that allows them to take on more roles in the healthcare office setting. These roles, in demand across the U.S., give RNs many options to further their careers. Along with full-time opportunities, there also exists a demand for locum tenens NPs nationwide, which may be especially appealing for an RN who enjoys the lifestyle as a travel nurse but who wants to advance to an NP.
Overview
NPs are unique in the healthcare system because their role emphasizes both the health and well-being of a patient, according to the AANP. They help patients make wiser health choices through counseling, education, prevention and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. In turn, patients are more satisfied and have lower healthcare bills. Patients can save money on healthcare expenditures, as a visit to a NP is more cost-effective than an appointment with a medical doctor.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nearly 50 percent of NPs work in a physician’s office. The remaining NPs take assignments at hospitals, outpatient centers, universities and offices of other healthcare providers.
NPs have a unique role in the healthcare system that allows them to perform multiple duties, from personal patient interaction to technical lab work.Duties
According to U.S. News & World Report, NPs have roles similar to those of a physician. These include:
- Administering treatments.
- Educating patients and families on overall care.
- Analyzing and ordering lab test reports.
- Prescribing medicine.
- Conducting physical examinations.
On a daily basis, NPs can work independently or alongside physicians. Specific duties, such as the authority to prescribe medicine, depend on the respective state the NP is registered to work in, according to the BLS.
Educational requirements
NPs must have a master’s degree from an accredited nursing program. Prior to enrolling in a master of science in nursing program, NP hopefuls must be licensed RNs, according to the BLS. Some programs even require a background of clinical experience.
For RNs looking to become a NP, there are a couple of different routes and programs for every background. RNs with an associate’s degree or nursing diploma will likely have to enroll in a bridge program. For RNs with a bachelor’s degree, traditional MSN programs are available. In any MSN program, students will have to pick a specialty, ranging from family nurse practitioner to gerontology care to management. There is no standard length for a MSN program, though most last one to two years.
“NP employment will grow 34% from 2012 to 2022.”
If you are considering furthering your NP nursing career, there are scholarship programs available to assist with schooling costs. Aureus Medical Group, for example, has a tuition reimbursement program that offers up to $12,000 for students who are pursuing their MSN, among other degrees. Depending on your program, $12,000 may be enough to cover a large portion of your tuition, if not the entire bill.
Job outlook
The BLS projected that NP employment will grow 34 percent from 2012 to 2022. This growth rate is significantly higher than the average across all occupations in the U.S. A lot of the growth is a result of the increased demand for healthcare providers across the country, with rural areas in even greater need for qualified NPs. Other factors for NP job growth include an aging baby boomer demographic and recent healthcare reforms.
In 2014, the average NP salary was $95,350, according to the BLS. However, depending on location and experience, this number can rise to over $131,050 per year. U.S. News & World Report said the highest salaries for NPs are found in San Jose, California; Columbus, Indiana; and Texarkana, Texas.
Because of the growth rate and salary of NPs, U.S. News & World Report dubbed NP the second best job of 2015.
Both the salary and job growth rate of a NP is greater than that of a RN. According to BLS, the average annual RN salary as of 2014 was $66,640, with the top 90 percent of RNs making $98,880 per year. The rate of employment growth for RNs is 19 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is faster than the national average. However, the RN growth rate is significantly lower than the growth rate of NPs.
For more information on NP job opportunities and MSN tuition reimbursement, contact Aureus Medical Group.