Nursing has always been an exciting profession, and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have further raised its importance in the US and worldwide. Nurses are no longer just the doctor’s helper. Their roles in the medical world are becoming increasingly involved.
However, before delivering primary and secondary care, diagnosing and prescribing medications, nurses need different degrees, credentials and licenses. Find out the current landscape of the nursing profession and the opportunities it offers in this article.
What is a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioners are registered professionals with the necessary education and licensing to provide different forms of care to patients. There are also advanced practice registered nurses with responsibilities ranging from preventative care to treating medical conditions and other aspects in between.
The specific duties of a nurse practitioner will depend on their area of expertise. For instance, the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner deals with patients with mental health conditions. In the case of a neonatal nurse practitioner, the job revolves around babies and very young patients.
No matter what the specialty of the profession, nurses require education and licenses. For example, there are ADN to NP programs that give nurses a chance to earn a Master’s degree and become licensed as a nurse practioner.
Here are some of the general roles of nurse practitioners:
- Administering primary and emergency care to patients
- Running diagnostic tests
- Drawing up treatment plans
- Prescribing and administering drugs and treatments
- Assessing the effectiveness of treatment plans for patients and making relevant adjustments where necessary
- Providing medical-based counseling and educating patients
Difference between a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse
As earlier established, there are several levels of responsibility in the nursing profession. The nurse practitioner is a step higher than the registered nurse in the hierarchy, as the former includes increased responsibilities and autonomy. For instance, diagnosing patients and creating development plans is off-limits for registered nurses. There are also differences in the qualifications required. Becoming a registered nurse only requires an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, nurse practitioners require a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
Steps to becoming a nurse practitioner
There are several ranks in this career choice. If becoming a nurse practitioner is your end goal, here are the necessary steps to get there:
- Earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing – You can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through a variety of paths, including direct-entry, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN or Accelerated BSN.
- Become a licensed RN – Nurses can achieve this even while working by passing the required exam.
- Acquire more work experience – Aside from the degrees and licenses, work experience is critical in nursing.
- Earn a graduate degree – This could be a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The latter might include the FNP specialty, which opens the door to more opportunities.
- Step up to a Certified Nurse Practitioner – To progress to this level, it is necessary to take a national certification exam. There are several certification boards in the US, including AANP, NCC and ANCC.
