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Nurse, Advanced Practice (NURSE PRACTITIONER, CNS)

Synopsis

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with additional specialized education. They provide health care services to individuals to maintain good health, prevent illness, or deal effectively with acute or chronic health problems. Nurse Practitioners assess the health status of patients by taking health histories, performing physical examinations, and diagnosing and treating common illnesses. The Nurse Practitioner can initiate therapy and recommend medications with physician support. They are responsible for maintaining the records of a patient's condition, treatment, and prognosis. The Nurse Practitioner provides education and counseling with an emphasis on the preventive aspects of health care. They can manage stable, chronic conditions such as diabetes and can coordinate the obstetric care of women with normal pregnancies. Nurse Practioners generally work with a licensed physician. However, there are some states in which state law permits them to engage in independent practice.

Training Requirements

To become a Nurse Practitioner, one must be a registered nurse and must complete an accredited Nurse Practitioner program earning a certificate or master's degree.

Degree Requirements

4+ year Bachelors Degree
Masters Degree

Employment Opportunities

Nurse Practitioners work in private offices with physicians, medical clinics, schools, home health agencies, health maintenance organizations, health departments, and hospitals. There is a great demand for Nurse Practitioners in rural areas due to shortages of health personnel outside the metropolitan setting. State funding programs exist to pay for this advanced training in exchange for a work commitment to serve a rural area. Some Nurse Practitioners may establish their own private practices.

Related Occupations

National Median Salary*

$57,134

Educational Institutions:

Professional Associations:

*NATIONAL MEDIAN SALARIES CITED COURTESY OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
2003 ASHA Omnibus Survey