Being a nurse means you have a versatile career that offers many avenues for advancement. One such path is becoming a nurse practitioner. Because it’s an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) position, working as a nurse practitioner means a higher salary, more responsibility, and additional education requirements.

Part one What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has additional responsibilities for administering patient care than RNs.

What Does A Nurse Practitioner Do?

NPs can prescribe medication, examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatment, much like physicians do. In fact, nurse practitioners have what’s referred to as “full practice authority” in 20 states, meaning that they do not have to work under the supervision of a doctor. In the remaining states, however, while NPs still have more authority than RNs, they must have a medical doctor sign on certain patient care decisions.

Nevertheless, nurse practitioners are increasingly becoming integral to medical teams as more and more hospitals and healthcare facilities are utilizing their expertise. 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 (KFF), it’s estimated that NPs can provide 80-90 percent of the care that primary care physicians offer.

Part two The NP Career Outlook

Nursing is a fairly stable industry already, but becoming an NP can give you even more job security. KFF reports that the need for primary care is expected to rise over the next five years because of the aging population and other factors, and NPs are poised to meet this increasing demand, especially in underserved areas. Without nurse practitioners, there could end up being a shortage of highly skilled medical professionals since there simply won’t be enough doctors to go around.

In fact, during the decade of 2014-2024, the BLS projects that nurse practitioner jobs will increase by 35 percent, which is much faster than most occupations. On top of that excellent job forecast, NPs also out-earn RNs by over $30,000 (median salary for registered nurses was $66,640 in May 2014, says the BLS). And, compared to an LPN’s annual wages of $42,490, becoming an NP will more than double your earnings.

What’s more is that even after you become an NP, additional specializations can drive salary up higher still, and invite even more career opportunities.

Part three How to Become an NP?

In order to work as a nurse practitioner, you must first become a practicing RN. Here are the steps that you need to take to advance from RN to NP:

Nurse Practitioner Requirements

1. Become an RN, and keep your license in good standing.
2. If you don’t already hold a BSN, enroll in and earn your Bachelor’s in Nursing Science degree.
3. Enroll in an MSN program. These programs are intensive and take a minimum of two years to complete. The simplest route to earning a master’s degree is for RNs who already have their bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, there are institutions that offer special bridge programs that help nurses who do not have bachelor’s degrees, or hold them in a different field, to earn their advanced degree in nursing. These are called RN-to-MSN programs. You may also see such programs called ADN-to-MSN (which means associate degree in nursing to master’s). Some institutions even offer Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, which is the highest level of nursing education available. Once enrolled, be prepared to take in-depth coursework including anatomy, pharmacology, and other nursing-specific studies. In addition, most programs also require clinical rotation hours.
4. Earn your advanced practice nursing licensure in practical nursing. Exam and certification requirements vary from state to state.
5. Begin working as an NP. You can find work in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare or medical facilities. Some NPs choose to take a step back from hands-on patient care to pursue managerial or administrative positions.

Part four A look at NP Careers

Nurse Practitioner is a pretty general title from which many professionals move into specialized roles. Take a look at some of the best paying nurse practitioner jobs to see the array of career options available.

Top Five Nursing Specialties

	General Nurse Practitioner	$97,990
	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$153,780
	Gerontological NP	$95,000
	Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner	$97,990
	Family Nurse Practitioner	$97,990

General Nurse Practitioner

This is the basic title you’ll earn when you become an NP, giving you the ability to open an independent practice or work within a healthcare team. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nurse practitioner salary was $97,990 as of the May 2014.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

NPs who become CRNAs can make a very healthy living, as this is one of the highest paying nursing specialties around. According to the BLS, Nurse Anesthetists earned a median salary of $153,780 as of May 2014. CRNAs are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients, which is a highly specialized skill. To perform these duties, you must earn a license from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

Gerontological NP

If your passion is working with elderly patients, the Certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (CGNP) designation is for you. You’ll learn how to administer health care to the aging, which comes with its own set of challenges. The median annual salary for this specialty is not readily available, but it’s estimated to be somewhere in the mid-90s.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Sometimes called mental health NPs, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner performs many of the same functions as a psychiatrist would, including prescribing medication and diagnosing mental illnesses. According to PayScale, this NP specialty can earn you a median salary of $91,298.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Very similar to General NPs, family nurse practitioners earn an additional certification in family practice to become FNPs. These professionals usually work in medical offices, clinics, or hospitals, and earn an average of $85,435 per year, as per PayScale.

Part five Professional Resources

If you’re considering taking this nursing career leap, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the resources and information offered by various national professional nursing associations. Some examples include:

Each of these organizations shares industry news, tools and advice to help you choose an appropriate program of study, information on accreditation, and more.

Part six Where are the Best Nursing Jobs?

High-paying nursing opportunities abound. As an RN or NP, you are in control of your career. Check out the best jobs from coast to coast on our job board. Get the pay and career path you deserve. 

Becoming a nurse practitioner is a lot of work, but with that title comes a rewarding and lucrative career. If your goal is to take your RN career to the next level, look into becoming an NP.

Part seven Nursing Scholarship