Nurse practitioners are highly trained and experienced advanced practice nurses, but what does a nurse practitioner do? Between directing patient care, diagnosing medical conditions, and educating patients, nurse practitioners have a lot of responsibility. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about nurse practitioners.
The modern health care landscape is changing, and if you have been in health care settings in recent years, chances are you have interacted with a nurse practitioner (NP). This advanced practice nursing role has gained prominence as health care systems respond to growing patient care demands. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who receive specialized training to diagnose symptoms, treat patients, and manage care. But what does a nurse practitioner do?
NPs hold graduate-level degrees and have completed additional postgraduate certificates after gaining experience as practicing registered nurses. They work with specific patient populations across a range of practice areas, and they practice with a higher level of autonomy than registered nurses (RNs). NPs can formulate patient care plans and have prescriptive authority that varies by state.
Making the decision to become a nurse practitioner is a choice that can shape the rest of your career, and the first step toward that goal is becoming a licensed registered nurse. Earning a master’s degree can be a valuable pathway into a nursing career. Before you decide to enroll in a program like Marquette University’s Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN), it’s important to know what to expect from a nurse practitioner’s career path.
Understanding the Nurse Practitioner Role
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a graduate degree from an accredited university and has completed a postgraduate certificate program before pursuing board certification. They are educated to evaluate patients, make clinical decisions, diagnose illnesses, recommend treatments and monitor outcomes over time.
NPs can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions, address common acute illnesses, prescribe medications according to state law, and educate patients and loved ones on their health.
It is also important to note that nurse practitioners are educated to practice with individual patient populations. An NP may be educated to care for populations including:
- Adults
- Adolescents
- Children
- Geriatric populations
- Populations in need of psychiatric or mental health interventions
Within their chosen practice area, a nurse practitioner may work in primary care, specialty practice, acute care, telehealth, a hospital setting, or another environment that aligns with that population focus. With a high-level understanding of the nurse practitioner role, explore what day-to-day practice looks like as an NP.
What Nurse Practitioners Do in Their Day-to-Day Practice
Nurse practitioner practice regularly involves evaluating health concerns, developing treatment plans and following patients through to the next stage of care. On a given day, this broad description could translate into dozens of specific responsibilities.
A nurse practitioner often begins by reviewing a patient's symptoms, health history, medications and risk factors. They may perform assessments and determine if additional testing is needed. If a patient is dealing with a straightforward illness, the visit may lead to a diagnosis, a prescription and home care guidance. If the patient has a complex or chronic condition, the NP may adjust medications, monitor progress, coordinate with specialists, and continue managing care over multiple visits.
Nurse practitioners spend significant time helping patients understand conditions, treatment options and the reasons behind a care plan. NPs also handle documentation, referrals, prescription renewals, test review and care coordination. NPs move seamlessly between direct patient care and clinical decision-making tasks.
Although NP duties vary by specialty, common elements of day-to-day practice include:
- Collecting comprehensive health histories and performing examinations
- Coordinating care with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and specialists
- Diagnosing conditions
- Monitoring patient progress and modifying treatment plans when needed
- Ordering, performing or interpreting diagnostic tests
- Potentially prescribing medications and other treatments, in accordance with state law
- Providing counseling on prevention, wellness and disease management
The Difference Between a Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner
So, what is the difference between a nurse and nurse practitioner? Both roles are essential in health care, but the key differences between a nurse and a nurse practitioner can be found in the levels of education, autonomy and prescriptive authority they each have.
To become an NP, you must do the following:
- Complete pre-licensure education
- Pass the NCLEX-RN and earn licensure as a registered nurse
- Spend time gaining experience as a practicing RN
- Complete a nurse practitioner education program
- Pursue certification and meet state requirements to be recognized as an NP
See how you can prepare for an MSN degree and equip yourself for success.
Entering an RN career path simply requires earning an associate’s or bachelor’s-level nursing degree and passing the NCLEX-RN. Earning an MSN degree is another option to pursue a nursing education and become an RN, and this degree type can set you up for more career opportunities and enable you to later pursue postgraduate education.
Marquette’s Direct Entry MSN program for non-nurses delivers a curriculum that can be completed in five or eight semesters, faster than a traditional four-year BSN program.
Nurse practitioners have greater clinical decision-making authority than nurses and work to develop treatment plans, although the exact level of independence for an NP depends on state laws, employer policies and practice area.
Registered nurses deliver and coordinate care, monitor patients, administer medications, respond to changes in condition, and help implement treatment plans.
H2: Where Nurse Practitioners Work and Who They Serve
Nurse practitioners work in a wide range of environments because their role is needed across much of the health care system. Many might first associate NPs with family practice or primary care based on personal experience, but nurse practitioners also work in:
- Community health organizations
- Hospitals
- Long-term care settings
- Psychiatric facilities
- Schools
- Telehealth settings
- Urgent care centers
The patient populations NPs serve depend on their practice area, and can contain any gender, age and range of symptoms. Gaining nursing experience prior to pursuing a post-master’s certificate program can help you decide which patient populations you most naturally gravitate toward.
Career Outlook and Advancement Opportunities for Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are in high demand with the need for expanded patient care, and this career path has plenty to offer. U.S. News & World Report recognizes nurse practitioner as the top-ranked profession in three categories: Best Jobs, Best Health Care Jobs and Best STEM Jobs. NPs earn a median salary of $129,210, and there are an estimated 128,400 current NP roles.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 35% growth in nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife and nurse practitioner roles by 2034, a total of 134,000 jobs added to these APRN roles during this time period. Now is a great time to pursue a nurse practitioner career, but what advancement opportunities exist?
Becoming a nurse practitioner opens the door to many management or administrative positions within health care settings. As an NP, you can help shape policy and advocate for measures leading to better patient care at a wider level.
Explore which pathways into nursing leadership you want to explore.
Start your Journey With Marquette DE-MSN
With a better understanding of what a nurse practitioner does, you can start your journey toward this exciting career as an expert in patient care and advocacy. Marquette University’s Direct Entry MSN could be the perfect first step toward an NP career, with a curriculum combining coursework, nursing labs and clinical courses.
After graduation, you will be excellently equipped to gain nursing experience as an RN and poised to then pursue a postgraduate certificate program.
Contact an admissions adviser today to get started on your journey into nursing with Marquette’s Direct Entry MSN.