According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse practitioners (NPs), who are a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), are healthcare professionals responsible for coordinating patient care and, in some cases, providing primary or specialty healthcare services.
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
The scope of practice for nurse practitioners may vary from one state to the next, as each state’s nursing board determines the level of autonomy that NPs are granted and what kind of requirements they must follow. For example, in some states, NPs must maintain career-long partnerships with physicians in order to practice.
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do?
This varies somewhat depending on the scope of practice in an NP’s state or territory. In general, however, some of the most common daily responsibilities and duties of a nurse practitioner include:
- Maintaining and updating patient records.
- Performing physician examinations.
- Performing, ordering, and reading the results of diagnostic tests.
- Diagnosing health problems and creating plans for treatment.
- Prescribing and administering medication.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Becoming a nurse practitioner typically requires earning a registered nurse (RN) license, completing a graduate-level nursing degree, and passing a national certification exam. While the exact path may vary, most aspiring NPs begin with an undergraduate nursing degree and then pursue advanced education and specialization before obtaining licensure.
Undergraduate and Graduate Requirements for NP’s
In all 50 states, NPs need to hold a master’s degree or doctoral degree in order to sit for their certification exams. However, some NPs can complete NP-specific educational requirements through a certificate program. To get into a graduate-level program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related healthcare field.
With this in mind, many aspiring NPs begin with either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and earn their RN licenses. From there, they may work as an RN while they attend a graduate-level nursing program. Upon completion of a graduate nursing program, individuals may be eligible to take one of the two national certification exams required for NPs, regardless of the state they practice in.
Nurse Practitioner Specializations
Nurse practitioners often choose to focus their advanced training in a specific patient population or area of healthcare. These specializations allow NPs to develop deeper clinical expertise and provide targeted care based on the needs of particular age groups, health conditions, or care settings. Depending on the specialty they pursue, nurse practitioners may work in hospitals, primary care clinics, mental health facilities, or community health organizations.
Some of the most common nurse practitioner specialties include:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Family nurse practitioners provide comprehensive healthcare to patients across the lifespan, from infants to older adults. They often work in primary care settings, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medications, and managing chronic conditions.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Psychiatric NPs specialize in mental health care, assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with behavioral health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. They may provide therapy, medication management, and coordinated mental health care.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) – This specialty focuses on providing primary care services to adolescents, adults, and older adults. AGPCNPs often work in primary care clinics, internal medicine practices, and outpatient healthcare settings.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) – Pediatric NPs focus on the healthcare needs of infants, children, and adolescents, providing preventive care, diagnosing illnesses, and supporting healthy development.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) – These NPs specialize in reproductive and gynecological healthcare, including preventive screenings, family planning, and pregnancy-related care.
To practice in a specialty area, nurse practitioners typically complete a graduate nursing program aligned with that population focus and pass a national certification exam. Certification may be offered through professional organizations such as:
Nurse practitioners must also maintain their certifications throughout their careers. This generally involves renewing credentials periodically, completing continuing education requirements, and demonstrating ongoing professional development.
Choosing a specialization allows nurse practitioners to align their careers with the types of patients and healthcare challenges they are most passionate about addressing.
Legal and Professional Standing of Nurse Practitioners
Your scope of practice and prescriptive authority as an NP largely depend on the state in which you practice, as each state and territory sets its own strict requirements and laws.
Prescriptive Authority Across Different States
You may view the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’ (AANP’s) State Practice Environment map for specific information on the scope of authority in each state. However, each state or territory falls into one of three categories:
- Full practice – NPs are permitted to evaluate and assess patients, diagnose, order, and interpret diagnostic tests, manage treatments, and prescribe medications (including controlled substances) without collaboration or oversight from a physician.
- Reduced practice – NPs have limitations on their prescriptive authority and may be unable to prescribe medications (including controlled substances) without commitment to a career-long partnership with another health provider.
- Restricted practice – NPs are restricted in their authority and required to maintain career-long supervision or delegation from another health provider, such as a physician.
Comparing the Autonomy of Nurse Practitioners With Other Healthcare Professionals
Even if you end up working as an NP in a state with restricted practice, NPs may still enjoy a high level of autonomy compared to other healthcare professionals (like RNs and LPNs). In some states, NPs may even start and operate their own healthcare practices.
The Impact of Nurse Practitioners on Patient Care
Across the nation, there is an ongoing shortage of primary care physicians and other specialized care providers. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that “the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.”
Improving Access to Primary and Specialized Care
What does a nurse practitioner do to help address patients’ evolving healthcare needs? In response to the above, more states have begun expanding the autonomy and scope of practice for NPs, empowering them to fill in the gaps and provide primary care in rural areas or other underserved areas around the country. As NPs expand their scope of power in more states, they enjoy a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the changing healthcare landscape and provide patients with the primary and specialized care they need.
Explore the MSN with Nurse Practitioner Specialization
Knowing how to become a nurse practitioner is the first step toward advancing your career. The next step is to develop the advanced skills needed to provide exceptional patient care. By pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a nurse practitioner specialization, you will be equipped to meet the growing demands of healthcare. At Post University, our flexible, fully online MSN program is designed for busy professionals. Start your journey to becoming a skilled and impactful nurse practitioner today.
Reach out to learn more about the online MSN with NP specializations at Post University today or get started with your application for admission.
