Historical Perspective
In 1965, Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry Silver developed the first Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Colorado. Nurse practitioners mainly worked in pediatrics in the early years of creation. It was not until later in the 1970s nurse practitioner specialties were created.
In 1974, the American Nurses Association (ANA) solidified the role of nurse practitioners by creating the Council of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners, which made a description of a nurse practitioner’s duties.
To ensure the best quality care, the ANA created nurse practitioner certification exams in 1977. Now days, there are hundreds of thousands nurse practitioners working in the medical field to ensure the best patient care.
What does a Nurse Practitioner do?
A nurse practitioner is an advance practice nurse. This meaning they are legally aloud to do more than a typical nurse could. A nurse practitioner can; examine patients, diagnose illnesses, provide treatment, and prescribe medication.
In 20 states, nurse practitioners have “full practice authority”, meaning the supervision of a doctor is not required. However, in the remaining states a nurse practitioner is required to have a supervising medical doctor to sign on patient’s medical decisions.
Professional Nursing Organizations Associated with Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Doctors of Nursing Practice
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology
National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners
The main professional nursing organization associated with nurse practitioners is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANA). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners, established in 2013, formed to give nurse practitioners a direct pathway to network and speak of their issues within the profession.
Salary Range
Median Annual Pay: $104,740.00
Median Hourly Pay: $50.36
Do not forget that this is an average of all combined salaries for nurse practitioners. Therefore, this is not how much every nurse practitioner is paid. Across all of the states the salaries vary from slight changes, to significant differences. Therefore, the salary of a nurse practitioner depends on the geographical location. It is safe to say that as you move north, the salary increases.
A Typical Day as a Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner will arrive on the job and being to plan out the parts of their day they can. Then NP will then make rounds checking on patients if needed. At this point, the typical day of a nurse practitioner cannot be explained step by step. It is easier to explain in chunks of “what could happen”. The nurse practitioner takes whatever is thrown at them, taking each case one at a time. There could be a combination of examining and diagnosing patients, providing care, and even prescribing medication. If need be, the nurse practitioner might also report to a supervising medical doctor. After several hours of completing these task at random times throughout the day, the nurse practitioner will be able to call it a day
Best and Worst Parts of Being a Nurse Practitioner
Pros:
• As the number of uninsured Americans increases, the job security of a nurse practitioner will forever be secure. Since the cost of seeing a nurse practitioner is significantly less than a physician, patients prefer to see NP’s.
• Nurse practitioners are able to have a better relationship with patients than any other medical professional. Nurse practitioners can provide all aspects of care to a patient rather than just one. They are also able to spend quality time with their patients.
• The flexibility in a nurse practitioner schedule is amazing, due to its ability to mold to the individual nurse practitioner. The two preferred options are the traditional forty-hour week for five days, or the three twelve-hour shifts a week.
• Nurse practitioners also have the ability to work in an enormous list of specialized fields. If the nurse practitioner has the desire to work in a specific field, it is more than likely available.
Cons:
• Unfortunately, with all the benefits of being a nurse practitioner, this has attracted many to this area of work. That meaning getting into nurse practitioner programs more difficult that others. The application process can be very difficult and competitive.
• In some states there are more restrictions and regulations than others. That meaning in one state a nurse practitioner can do much more than they could in another state.
• Being a nurse practitioner, there is the occasional requirement to be on-call. This can be seen as a negative side to any medical profession. It merely just depends on the person, and what they enjoy.
• Finding a first job as a nurse practitioner can be very difficult. Many healthcare providers look for experienced nurse practitioners with a wide range of experience.
Ministry and/or Mission Opportunities as a Nurse Practitioner
As a nurse practitioner there are countless opportunities for ministry and mission opportunities. Since a nurse practitioner can work independent from a physician, they could lead a team for medical mission in foreign countries. The nurse practitioner could take their practice anywhere, that legally allows it, and help the local population in need. Therefore, nurse practitioners have free range in any area of a medical missions.
Would I like to be a Nurse Practitioner? Why?
After the completion of my research on a nurse practitioner, it continues to solidify my desire to become a nurse practitioner. I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but wanted to have a more personal relationship with patients. So that guided me to nursing, but then I realized I wanted to be independent. Therefore, what better position than a nurse practitioner. The ability to have a personal connection with patients, but also able to supply complete care without an over seeing doctor.
Educational Preparation Required to be a Nurse Practitioner?
To become a nurse practitioner there are a few requirements before one can dive into the profession. To begin, one must obtain a bachelor’s degree. Although there is no specific bachelor’s degree required, most future nurse practitioners usually chose either a degree in nursing or one of the main science fields (chemistry or biology). After receiving a bachelor’s degree, the student is then required to obtain a masters of science in nursing degree. This is where the requirements depend on the state. Some states require a Doctor of Nursing Practice to finish out the requirements. Again, it all depends on what state the prospective nurse practitioner is located in. Then once all requirements have been met, the final step is a board exam. Every nurse practitioner is required to complete a licensure exam or board exam to complete their certification. Every state has their own exam, and to practice within that state, this exam must be completed and passed.
How is the Role of a Nurse Practitioner Unique?
The role of a nurse practitioner is one of the most unique medical professions in the field. As a nurse practitioner, you are almost at the exact same level as a physician. A nurse practitioner can do almost everything a normal physician can depending on the state. The nurse practitioner can see patients, diagnose them, and even prescribe medication. This is what makes being a nurse practitioner so unique. The best part is that almost all patients prefer a nurse practitioner instead of a physician. That is because a nurse practitioner will actually have a real connection with their patients. The nurse practitioner takes time to care not physically but emotionally for all of there patients. This is what truly sets a nurse practitioner and physician apart. One actually cares about the person, the other simply cares about getting the job done, then leaving.