Nurse practitioners are among the highest-paid professionals in the nursing field. Like other advanced nursing fields, being a nurse practitioner requires graduate-level education. Some nurse organizations advocate doctoral degrees for this specialty, and more nurse practitioners are pursuing doctoral education in nursing practice.
Function
Nurse practitioners are one of several advanced practice areas in the field of nursing. They provide both nursing and health care services to patients.
Compensation
Nurse practitioners command some of the highest salaries in the nursing profession. Salaries vary with the setting in which practitioners work, but generally range from $75,000 to $88,000 a year, with a median of about $81,000.
Education
Nurse practitioners must hold master's degrees in nursing. A bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) is a prerequisite for admission to any graduate program in nursing. In addition to a BSN, some master's programs also require clinical experience as a registered nurse (RN). Master's degree programs in nursing require about two years of study.
Certification
Once they complete their education, many nurse practitioners become nationally certified in their specialty area(s). Some states require certification for nurse practitioners. Standards vary by state.
Types
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 300 graduate programs for nurse practitioners.
Expert Insight
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing advocate doctoral training for all advanced practice nurses, including Nurse Practitioners, by 2015.
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