Education Needed To Become A Nurse Practitioner

What Courses Are Needed To Become A Nurse Practitioner

How To Become A Nurse Practitioner

Are you hoping to take a step up in your nursing career and become a nurse practitioner? Are you starting from scratch and want to know the path you need to take to reach this high level of nursing? If so, there are various avenues you can take to achieve your career goal.

Nurses are part of the cornerstone of the healthcare sector as they provide essential care to patients as well as emotional support to their families. There are different types of nursing that you can work in, but if you want to reach the top of the career ladder in nursing, then a nurse practitioner is the role to pursue.

Below, we have explained the roles of a nurse practitioner, and the online nursing courses you can take ahead of degree-level study. With all this information at your fingertips, you will be able to work towards a rewarding and exciting career.

Are Online Programs Available

There are online programs available for nursing students at all levels, including students pursuing an MSN or a DNP. In many cases, youll take your classes online, then be placed at in-person, clinical locations in the community to get the hours you need. You might have the option to use on-campus resources like libraries, study groups, and more when you need them.

Why Are Nurse Practitioners So Important

Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat patients as well as perform procedures. They differ from physicians in that their patient care approach is more holistic. Being nurses, they gather information about a patient not only to include physical symptoms but psychosocial and environmental information as well. They are skilled in education and therefore can spend time teaching patients and family about disease processes, treatments, and healthcare prevention as well as diagnosing acute health issues.

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners can also help lower the cost of healthcare, as patients who use NPs as their primary care provider have fewer emergency room visits and shorter hospital stays. Additionally, they help to fill the gap with the primary care physician shortage in the United States. They also tend to have high patient satisfaction.

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Complete An Accredited Fnp Education Program

Texas-licensed RNs are ready for the next step toward becoming an FNP in Texas, which is to complete an accredited FNP education program.

Colleges and universities offer FNP programs at the master’s degree, doctorate and post-graduate certificate levels. Doctoral programs are ideal for aspiring FNPs seeking terminal nursing education. Post-graduate certificate programs are geared toward candidates who already have a master’s in nursing.

If you have a BSN only, then the fastest way to become an FNP in Texas is to pursue a master’s-level FNP program. Most can be completed in 18 to 24 months of full-time study.

Whichever program you choose, be sure the curriculum has the following components required by the Texas BON:

Preparation in the core competencies for the FNP role.
Three separate courses in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology and advanced physiology and pathophysiology.
Content about the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of APRNs.
A minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience directly related to the FNP role and population, including the pharmacotherapeutic management of patients.

Two What Do Nurse Practitioners Do

Choosing Nurse Practitioner of Physician Assistant? A ...

NPs are health care providers that can prescribe medication, examine patients, order diagnostic tests, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatment, much like physicians do.

Their experience as working nurses gives them a unique approach to patient care, while their advanced studies qualify them to take on additional duties that are usually left to physicians.

In fact, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation , its estimated that NPs can provide 80-90 percent of the care that primary care physicians offer.

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Career Advancement For Nurse Practitioners

Becoming a nurse practitioner can open many doors in the healthcare industry. Thanks to their training in leadership and communication, they often advance to become hospital administrators. Many NPs establish their own independent practice. Those interested in disseminating knowledge to a new batch of nurses can explore an educational path, while others turn to careers as medical researchers utilizing their analytical skills.

Do Nurse Practitioners Get Paid Well

A 2019 AANP report cited the median base salary for a full-time NP at $110,000. Top-earning NPs included those with adult psychiatric/mental health certification who earned $125,000 a year, and emergency room NPs who made $135,000. NPs in California and Hawaii out-earned those in other states, enjoying salaries above $140,000.

Apply For State Licensure As A Nurse Practitioner

Finally, apply for licensure as a nurse practitioner from your state board. Be sure to research licensure requirements in your state as they may vary widely from other states.

What Is The Fastest Way To Become A Nurse Practitioner

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner: Journey in Distance Education

A nursing degree is a necessity if you want to become a nurse, but you need qualifications to get there. If you are starting from scratch, then it is important that you meet the entry requirements of your chosen university. If not, you will be unable to study a nursing degree.

Generally, students need 3 A Levels in certain subjects to be accepted on degree level nursing courses. UK-based learners that dont have A Levels may want to consider studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma . Not only could it lead to university acceptance, but it is also one of the fastest ways to kickstart your career as a nurse practitioner.

Stonebridge Associated Colleges provides accredited online nursing courses that will put you on the right path towards becoming a nurse practitioner. If youre looking for the fastest way to get your career off the ground, then study for an Access to HE Diploma. This is because you can achieve the qualification in less than one year.

An Access to Higher Education Diploma is the equivalent to 3 A Levels, and you have two years to complete it but on average, learners achieve their Diploma in 9-12 months. Usually, it takes two years to finish A Levels, so by opting for an Access course, you can speed up the process. With these online nursing courses, you have the freedom to study at your own pace and in your own time.

Please note the following requirements needed to take our Access to HE Diploma course:

Academic Writing Skills

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Earn A Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing

Completing an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is the first step in how to become an FNP in Texas.

Why earn a BSN? The American Association of Colleges of Nursing advocates for all RNs to be prepared with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

It points to research that links nursing education at the baccalaureate level and above to:

Lower mortality rates
Fewer medication errors
Better patient outcomes

Another reason to earn a BSN is that most FNP programs require it for admission. Earning your BSN will help you become an FNP in Texas faster than starting the process with an Associate Degree in Nursing .

Alternate Routes To Becoming An Np

There are four additional routes to becoming an NP that are worth noting. The first applies to bachelors program graduates who would like to enter the nursing field without having to repeat bachelors program general education requirements. These are students who have not yet trained for RN licensure and thus qualify for what are often called Accelerated BSN programs. An Accelerated BSN program provides students who have a bachelors degree in a non-nursing field with only the coursework and clinical training necessary to qualify for RN licensure. Once they earn their BSN and RN license, students can then pursue an MSN program for training in an NP specialty.

There are also Direct Entry MSN programs, which are similar to Accelerated BSN programs, but combine BSN and MSN training into one program. Students in these programs typically earn their BSN, become licensed as an RN, and then continue on through their MSN coursework. These programs, which require a non-nursing bachelor degree, often have strict admissions requirements as they are fast paced and academically challenging.

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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Acute Care Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses that provide care to patients in acute care and/or hospital settings. Acute Care NPs see patients when they are sick, admitted to the hospital, or after a surgical procedure and/or trauma. Their focus is solely on caring for the adult population with complex diseases.

Seven Which Schools Have The Best Np Programs

There are numerous NP programs throughout the country, so our panel of nurses ranked them based on reputation, certification pass rate, cost, accreditation, and acceptance rates to determine that these are some of the best options out there. Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 NP programs are ranked in no particular order.

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Bsn Entry Level Into Nursing In The Future

Among nurse educators, arguments continue about the ideal balance of practical preparation and the need to educate the future practitioner to manage healthcare and to have a broader view of the practice. To meet both requirements, nurse education aims to develop a lifelong learner who can adapt effectively to changes in both the theory and practice of nursing. Degree programs were created in the 1950s and 1960s to quickly fix the nursing shortage, and while today there is still a nursing shortage concern due to the fact that the current nursing census is made up of more than 50% of nurses above the age of 55 years old and upon retiring will create a huge nursing deficit, there is still the aim to promote higher level educated nurses at the entry level into one’s nursing career. “Recent changes in the scope of nursing practice have many hospitals are looking to select only BSN-trained nurses and are requiring current AD nurses to further their education to acquire the BSN degree. Magnet hospitals typically employ greater numbers of BSN-prepared nurses and currently require that all nurse managers and nurse leaders hold degrees at the BSN level or higher.”

What Is The Fastest Path To Become A Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

A nurse may begin by completing a two-year ADN program. While working, a student can complete an RN-to-BSN program that generally takes one year. Accelerated bachelor’s programs may take even less time. The student can work in cardiology during the RN-to-BSN program and complete another one to two years in cardiology before completing a two-year MSN program. Using this schedule a student might become a cardiology nurse practitioner within five years.

Begin Your Journey Today

If you are looking for online nursing courses that can lead you towards a career as a nurse practitioner, then Stonebridge Associated Colleges can help. As one of the UKs leading distance learning providers, we offer a range of nationally recognised qualifications that help learners achieve their career goals.

If you want to kick-start your academic journey, or you want more information about nursing courses, UK learners should speak to one of our Course Executives on . Alternatively, you can contact us online or click below to find out more.

Nurse Practitioner Program Specialties

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Salary, Job Duties, & Education Requirements

There are many clinical areas in which a nurse practitioner can work. From primary care to specialty care, acute care, and long-term care, nurse practitioners are valuable members of the patient care team. Some NP programs include training in certain specialties otherwise, certification can be obtained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center . Some areas include:

Post-master’s certificate programs and nursing certifications are available for current NPs who wish to switch or expand specialties.

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What Is A Nurse Practitioner

NPs hold advanced training in a nursing specialty area such as adult-gerontology, family nurse practice, neonatal, pediatrics, psychiatric, and women’s health. NPs diagnose and treat patients in hospitals, physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, and community health centers.

Becoming a nurse practitioner can increase an RN’s career advancement opportunities and earning potential. While nurse practitioner schooling can take between two to six years to complete, graduates find it well worth the time and effort. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 45% growth rate for NP positions from 2019-2029 and reports a median annual salary of $117,670.

Visit our nurse practitioner career overview for additional information about what nurse practitioners do and where they work.

What Is A Dermatology Nurse Practitioner

A dermatology nurse practitioner is a specialized nurse practitioner who works with patients to examine, heal and maintain hair, skin and nails. DNPs may choose to focus on subspecialization such as pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology or surgical dermatology.

Cosmetic and surgical DNPs may work with patients of all ages, while pediatric DNPs work primarily with children. DNPs often work in clinics and private dermatology practices, but they may also work in hospital burn units, medical spas, vocational schools or colleges, plastic surgeons offices or research offices.

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History Of Nurse Practitioners

The first nurse practitioner program started in 1965 in Colorado. That same year, Medicare and Medicaid expansion increased the number of Americans who qualified for coverage and could seek primary healthcare.

In 2018, an estimated 56,000 NPs practiced in the U.S. The rise of the NP profession came in response to the lack of primary care physicians available to meet this need.

Nurse practitioners stand out from other healthcare providers by looking at patient health and well-being from a whole-person perspective.

Nurse practitioners serve an important role in helping to address the continuing primary care shortage, lowering healthcare costs, and improving patient satisfaction. Nurse practitioners stand out from other healthcare providers by looking at patient health and well-being from a whole-person perspective.

Throughout the profession’s history, NPs have advocated for policy changes to improve healthcare and access, particularly for children, low-income individuals, and other marginalized groups.

Doctorate Degrees In Nursing

What Training Is Required To Become A Nurse Practitioner ...

The DNP degree program is a practice doctorate, which means graduates focus on using research and findings to influence their practice. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has proposed that this degree be the requirement for all advanced practice nurses by 2015.

At this level, students measure outcomes of various clinical initiatives on patient groups and populations, and learn critical skills to focus their research and reporting efforts on ways to improve healthcare systems and care delivery. Completing a doctoral program prepares students to serve as leaders in the healthcare setting by providing scientific, research-based knowledge to healthcare providers, researchers, and community leaders.

Understanding the distinction between a DNP degree program and a Ph.D. in nursing is important. While a DNP focuses on practical application of nursing practice theories and research, a PhD in Nursing prepares students for scholarly research to advance the field.

DNP
Completion and defense of a dissertation

Doctoral Level Skills

Practice-Oriented Leadership

DNP degree programs are designed for nursing executives. It provides a h5 focus on developing leadership skills for clinical practice. Students learn how to influence and manage teams to reach a common goal, how to motivate groups, and how to share and communicate research data effectively.

Advanced Research Methods

Translating Evidence-Based Care into Practice

Team-Based Collaboration

Organizational Leadership

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Nurse Practitioner Job Opportunities And Outlook

U.S. News & World Report ranks the nurse practitioner profession as #4 in its 2020 Best Healthcare Jobs list, highlighting the projected employment growth for this career.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for nurse practitioners was $107,030 in 2018. Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 28.2 percent from 2018 to 2028, with an estimated 53,300 jobs added during that period. The BLS ranks this as the ninth fastest-growing profession.

Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, the most common being physicians offices. They also work in general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, clinics, and offices of other health practitioners.

Obtain Licensure In Your State

Licensing is handled by your states board of nursing. There are very few states allowing nurse practitioners to practice without certification but even in those cases employers and insurers often require nurse practitioners become certified.

In order to practice in another state you will be required to become licensed there as a registered nurse if you are not currently in a compact state. Then you may become licensed as an advanced practice nurse.

Contact the board of nursing in your state to find their requirements for FNP licensure.

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