Nurse Practitioners are healthcare providers who work in collaboration with Physicians and other health-care team members in order to provide comprehensive primary care to children and adults of all ages. A Nurse Practitioner may work in a variety of different health-care specialty settings (e.g. Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Adult/Geriatric medicine, Acute care, Psych/Mental health, or Women's health).
Duties of a Nurse Practitioner often include: taking medical histories and performing physical examination; ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and x-rays; diagnosing, treating, and monitoring acute and chronic illnesses; prescribing medications and other treatments; providing patient and family education; providing appropriate referral to physicians and other health care team members.
Nurse Practitioner Career Spotlight
Average Salary*
$50,000 - $85,000
Educational Requirements*
Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses with advanced formal training. Most RN's interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner possess a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Upon completion of an accredited Nurse Practitioner training program a master's degree in nursing is often awarded and licensing is then awarded after passing national boards.
Associated Affiliations
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners - Capitol Station, LBJ Building, P.O. Box 12846, Austin, TX 78711 (512) 442-4262
American Nurses Association - 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 100 West, Washington, DC 20024 (800) 274-4ANA
