Nurse Practitioner Job Description

The medical field is fueled by caregivers and nurses, and this is the kind of work that just about anyone can get into. It only takes a couple years of education to become a registered nurse, and that is the position that most people start in when they decide to enter the nursing profession. If you want to work in a more advanced position in nursing, you may consider working as a nurse practitioner. Let's take a look at what this job entails so you can determine if it is right for you.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is an advanced nursing professional that takes on many of the job duties of doctors in the work place. Nurse practitioners can diagnose patients, prescribe medications, examine medical issues, and even perform surgeries in some cases. To do this though, they have to go through training beyond that of an RN. Common job duties of nurse practitioners include:

• Reviewing patient charts to assess medical conditions
• Managing other nurses in a health care facility
• Deciding what kind of medication patients should be put on to get better
• Consulting with doctors to determine the prognosis for a patient

There are many different kinds of nurse practitioners out there, including family nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners, adult nurse practitioners, psychiatric nurse practitioners, oncology nurse practitioners, and geriatric nurse practitioners. The job duties you experience in this career will be dependent on the position you choose to work in, so keep your options open when you enter this profession.

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make?

As a whole, nurse practitioners make pretty good money. They have more responsibilities than other nurses, so they get have higher salaries to look forward to. Here is a look at how nurse practitioner salaries will change based on certifications and years of experience:

Salary by Certification

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support: $63,060 - $99,837
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Board Certified: $55,624 - $102,413
• American Nurses Credentialing Center: $61,955 - $97,995
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: $60,494 - $98,013
• Certified Family Nurse Practitioner: $63,275 - $101,984
• Critical Care: $59,555 - $111,789
• Family Nurse Practitioner: $62,489 - $97,655
• Family Practice: $58,723 - $96,352
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support: $61,514 - $100,191
• Pediatrics: $57,657 - $101,942

Salary by Experience

• <1 year: $59,335 - $86,215
• 1-4 years: $59,520 - $91,952
• 5-9 years: $59,969 - $97,079
• 10-19 years: $59,485 - $104,689
• 20+ years: $55,261 - $104,588

As you can see, there is a pretty wide range of salaries you could earn in this career. Many professionals make well over $100,000 a year, and most start with at least $60,000 in earnings through this career. If you have been looking for a nursing job that can pay the bills, this is definitely a contender. How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
To become a nurse practitioner, you will need to obtain a master of science in nursing. This is a two year degree program that occurs after you complete a four year bachelor of science in nursing program. Most nurse practitioners spend at least one year working as an RN before entering the career of a nurse practitioner. You may want to spend more than that before taking on the responsibilities of this profession. You will have to take an examination to become a certified nurse practitioner, but that will not be difficult if you pay attention in school. With a little dedication, you could be a full-fledged nurse practitioner in no time.