Why Become a Nurse Practitioner?

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Nurse practitioners are advanced-level nurses that are responsible for the care of their patients in a very similar manner to a physician. In fact, most states permit nurse practitioners (NPs) to act completely independently of a physician, however, some states require that NPs work collaboratively with licensed doctors. This is in contrast to lower level nurses, such as registered or licensed vocational nurses, who are often not given the same level of freedom and responsibilities. Should you decide to become a nurse practitioner, you'll likely find that it is a great way to gain the satisfaction that comes with helping people, while at the same time being your own boss.

So, how exactly does one achieve this goal? Obtaining both your BSN (bachelor's of science in nursing), your designation as a registered nurse, and your master's in nursing with an accredited nurse practitioner specialization are the only requirements to become a nurse practitioner. Most, if not all, NP programs will have you focus on a specialized area, such as adult, neonatal, or pediatric care. As was mentioned before, there is no formal examination required to be recognized as a full-fledged NP.

The salary and benefits of being a nurse practitioner are also much higher than being simply a registered nurse. In 2008 the average income for a NP was around $81,000 although this profession certainly has the potential to earn much more. In fact, the highest average earning salary was a little over $90,000 in the specialty of hematology/oncology. Like many nursing jobs, you can't become a nurse practitioner if you expect to work from 9 to 5. NPs are often called in at odd hours when there are fewer physicians available and the clinic or hospital requires someone with physician-like authority, without the costs or burden.

However, much of the freedom that nurse practitioners currently enjoy may

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