The higher the quality of nursing education you receive, the better prepared you will be to uphold high standards of patient care. Many people opting to switch careers prefer a faster route to nursing, such as Marquette University’s Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. After graduating with an MSN degree in five or eight semesters and passing the NCLEX-RN exam, you can begin building experience as a practicing nurse. If you want to continue advancing your nursing career after that, you may consider pursuing additional training and certifications to enter new practice areas.

Once nurses have obtained an MSN and gained experience in a clinical setting, they may consider several career options, including becoming a nurse practitioner (NP). There are many different types of NPs, differentiated by practice areas as well as a wide range of requirements and eligibility criteria, depending on the position. As you consider your career goals, explore some of the nurse practitioner specialties available after gaining nursing experience by reviewing the options below.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

Before diving into nurse practitioner categories, it’s helpful to understand what an NP is. An NP is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). All APRNs, including NPs, hold a graduate degree in nursing and have obtained board certification in their nursing specialty.

NP Roles and Responsibilities

Nurse practitioners can practice with greater autonomy than registered nurses (RNs). NPs are highly skilled clinicians who assess, examine, diagnose and treat patients. They also handle patient education, preventive care and health promotion. NPs focus on the health of the whole person, often encouraging patients to make healthier lifestyle choices and guiding them toward informed care decisions.

Education and Certification Requirements

All aspiring NPs must earn at least an MSN degree related to their area of practice. Some NPs may choose to earn an additional degree like that of Doctor of Nursing Practice after first obtaining an MSN. Upon graduating and gaining experience as a practicing nurse, aspiring NPs must then meet the board certification requirements for their specialty, which include specific academic preparation.

Certification requirements can vary by specialty and certifying body, but nurses are typically required to pass a board certification exam. NPs must also obtain an APRN license in the state where they plan to practice. Marquette’s DE-MSN admissions advisers can provide you with a more detailed explanation.

Primary Care NP Specialties

Many types of nurse practitioners fall into the primary and family care category. This can be an excellent subfield for nurses who want to provide care to patients over an extended period, allowing them to build stronger patient relationships. It’s also ideal for nurses who prefer to focus on preventive wellness, patient education and health promotion.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Roughly 70% of all NPs are family nurse practitioners, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). An FNP provides primary care to patients across their lifespan. FNPs typically work out of doctors’ offices and clinics. Their responsibilities might include:

• Developing care plans to treat chronic health conditions
• Administering prenatal care
• Performing exams and health assessments
• Diagnosing health problems
• Ordering lab and imaging tests
• Prescribing medications

FNPs may be particularly in demand in areas where there aren’t enough primary care physicians to meet the needs of the community.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Among the highest-paying NP specialties, a pediatric nurse practitioner provides primary care for pediatric and adolescent patients. PNPs must have a strong working knowledge of physical, cognitive, emotional and social development and milestones. They offer both preventive care and management of diseases and injuries.

Working out of clinics, doctors’ offices and hospitals, a PNP may be responsible for:

• Performing health assessments and exams
• Administering immunizations
• Educating parents and caregivers
• Diagnosing illnesses and injuries
• Developing treatment plans
• Identifying patients who require screenings for developmental issues, such as autism spectrum disorder

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

An AGNP specializes in working with adolescents and adults. Many AGNPs work in primary care (AG-PCNP), while others work in acute care (AGACNP). An AGNP may find work in a hospital, nursing home, private practice or home health agency. Like other types of NPs, AGNPs can assess, examine, diagnose, treat and prescribe.

Acute and Specialty Care NPs

Beyond primary care, there are many other nurse practitioner specialties to choose from. Other nurse practitioner categories include acute care and specialty care.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)

An acute care nurse practitioner works with patients on a short-term basis to treat illnesses or injuries. ACNPs often work in hospitals, although some also work in other inpatient settings or outpatient facilities. In emergency departments, ACNPs may handle casting, suturing, intubation and similar tasks. Other work settings, depending on specialization, may include hospice agencies, children’s hospitals and correctional facilities.

The NP certification exam for ACNPs without an additional specialization was retired. Today, aspiring acute care NPs may choose from the following nurse practitioner specialties:

• Certified Pediatric NP - Acute Care
• Acute Care NP Certified in Adult-Gerontology
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Board Certification

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The acute and specialty care nurse practitioner categories include practice areas like psychiatric nursing. A psychiatric nurse practitioner collaborates with psychiatrists and other mental health providers to help individuals with all types of mental health disorders work toward stabilization and recovery or remission. They can assess, diagnose, prescribe and counsel patients. Psychiatric NPs also serve as patient advocates.

These nurse practitioners can work across a range of settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, mental health departments, hospitals, private psychiatric practices, correctional facilities and even schools and universities.

Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner (ONP)

A wide range of diseases and injuries can affect the body’s musculoskeletal system, including joints, bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. An orthopedic nurse practitioner specializes in helping patients who have either acute or chronic orthopedic medical problems. These conditions range from fractures and arthritis to fibromyalgia and genetic abnormalities, and many more.

Alternative Nurse Practitioner Roles

The nursing field is continually evolving, and today there are more different types of NPs than ever before. Below are some lesser-known nurse practitioner specialties:

Dermatology Nurse Practitioner (DNP)

A dermatology nurse practitioner specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails. A DNP can help patients with anything from acne or eczema to melanoma or burn injuries. DNPs may order lab tests, interpret pathology reports, collaborate with dermatologists and oncologists and develop treatment plans.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP)

If you have strong emotional intelligence and excellent patient education skills, you might consider becoming an oncology nurse practitioner. An NP who has earned the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) credential is prepared to provide both nursing care and emotional support to cancer patients.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)

An emergency nurse practitioner works in critical care environments, specializing in triage and patient stabilization. They can diagnose and treat acute diseases and other conditions, as well as provide psychological support to distressed patients and their families.

Choosing Between Nurse Practitioner Categories

It can be challenging to decide which type of nurse practitioner best suits your interests and skills. Clinical rotations can help you discover which practice areas you are most drawn to. When you complete clinicals as a Marquette DE-MSN student across multiple practice areas, you’ll begin to discover which specialization suits you best. Then, after gaining experience as an RN, you can choose whether you want to pursue certification and become an NP with a specific focus.

In determining your career path, it also helps to assess your strengths and personal nursing interests. For instance, if you served as a family caregiver to a loved one with cancer, perhaps becoming an oncology NP is right for you. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and can think quickly on your feet, then becoming an ENP might be ideal. Wherever your future takes you, the first step is to enroll in a nursing degree program. Marquette provides a strong foundation to students through our DE-MSN program, based on strong clinical skills and a holistic, evidence-based outlook that centers the patient. Regardless of where your own nursing pathway takes you, a MSN degree can be the perfect start.

Pursue a Direct Entry MSN at Marquette University

If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and would like to make a career change to nursing, it’s time to explore Marquette University’s Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. Choose from program options available in Pleasant Prairie (with predominantly hybrid coursework) and Milwaukee (with predominantly campus-based learning).

At Marquette University, we focus on graduating confident, practice-ready professionals who provide care for the whole person and are champions for social justice. Contact us today to speak with an admissions advisor.