Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner
There are many opportunities to earn a living as a nurse. For example, a person may become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN). A person may even decide to make a living as a certified nurse assistant (CNA). Some people enjoy nursing, but they want a little bit more responsibility. These people may seek to become nurse practitioners.
Identification
Many people are familiar with going to a doctor's office and seeing physicians for routine care. Today, however, some people visit a medical office and are examined by a nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner is a person who has become a registered nurse and then gone on to complete advanced education and training. These nurses are trained in diagnosing and managing a patient's health, including commonly seen medical conditions and serious illnesses. A nurse practitioner can order laboratory tests, interpret them and prescribe treatment and medications. Generally, these nurses offer the same level of care that physicians provide, and they usually work closely with medical doctors.
Education
According to AllNursingSchools (a Website located in our Resources section), a person must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing to become a nurse practitioner. He must then enroll in a school that provides nurse practitioner training. Typically, these programs last for about 2 years and allow a person to earn a master's degree in nursing.
Degrees
According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), most nurse practitioner programs lead to a master's degree, but some also allow students to earn post-master's certificates. Some even award doctoral degrees. According to the AANP, programs may shift towards regularly preparing nurse practitioners for doctoral degrees in years to come, ending with a Doctor of Nursing Practice titles for graduates.
Licensing and Certification
According to the Women's Health Channel, a person must obtain state licensing before practicing as a nurse practitioner. Each state has its own licensing requirements. However, according to the channel, most require completion of a nursing practitioner training program and a certain level of clinical experience. With a state license secured, a person may then go on to apply for national certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Association (ANA), if desired. According to the AANP, many nurse practitioners become nationally certified in specialties, gaining recognition as experts in their health fields.
Exam
A nurse practitioner's training may not end with school. She may also have to take a certification exam before she can practice. Since each state's requirements vary, a prospective nurse practitioner will have to check with the licensing agency in her particular state for details. Nurse.org offers links to nursing and licensing organizations in each state.
Tags: nurse practitioner, practitioner training, Academy Nurse, Academy Nurse Practitioners, According AANP
