Nurse Practitioners

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Median Annual Wage: $95,350

Education: Master's degree (83%); Doctoral degree (7%); Post-baccalaureate certificate (3%)

Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)

Related Job Titles: Nurse Practitioner; Family Nurse Practitioner; Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner; Adult Nurse Practitioner; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner; Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN); Nurse Practitioner, Adult

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Practitioners.

More Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Careers

  • Diagnose or treat acute health care problems such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.
  • Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.
  • Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
  • Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.
  • Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies based on patient characteristics such as age and gender.
  • Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).
  • Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.
  • Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
  • Develop treatment plans based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
  • Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
  • Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.
  • Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
  • Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.
  • Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.
  • Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.
  • Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.
  • Perform routine or annual physical examinations.
  • Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.
  • Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice including reimbursement of services.
  • Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.
  • Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.
  • Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.
  • Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.
  • Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Practitioners.

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Practitioners.

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