How to Become A Adult Nurse Practitioner

If you want to pursue a promising career, enrolling in nursing programs can be your best bet. As there is lot of demand for these healthcare experts across the country, pursuing a career in this field can help you find exciting and rewarding jobs without having to go through the demanding schedules of on-campus programs.
 

Nurses are dedicated towards providing healthcare facilities to the sick and dependents. They also look after the injured, assist the medical staff, operate medical equipment and do various other tasks. The job description of nurses varies according to their qualification and area of expertise. An adult nurse practitioner is one who is trained to providing primary medical care to patients. These nurses diagnose and treat various medical conditions and also prescribe medications. They can also focus their practice in a particular area within this field such as disease management, pathophysiology and more. ANPs work in nursing homes, doctor's office, hospital, emergency room, rehabilitation center and other medical facilities.
 
How to Become an Adult Nurse Practitioner?
 
Students who are interested in pursuing a career in this field of nursing must obtain a BSN degree. A bachelor’s degree in nursing provides students with various skills that helps them look after the sick. They also learn develop critical thinking, situational analysis and clinical assessment in these programs. Some of the courses learners will cover in these programs include altered adult and pediatric health, physical assessment, introduction to pathophysiology and cross-cultural patient care. Students also complete training in real medical settings.
 
The next step is to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Students who obtain the title of a registered nurse need to enroll in a master of science in nursing under the adult healthcare program. This advanced degree can be completed in about 2 years. It focuses on developing leadership as well as decision-making and managerial skills within learners. Students also learn about assessment, disease prevention and managing various health-related issues. The curriculum includes topics such as adult health management, population-based health care, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment.
 
Students can also opt for certification offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in adult nursing. To get this certification, students must hold a masers or PhD degree and should have also completed clinical experience.
 

Job Outlook and Adult Nurse Practitioner Salary

Career prospects for adult nurse practitioner are very bright as there are scores of jobs that are available for such professionals. They can opt to serve in nursing homes, physicians’ offices and various other settings. Adult nurse practitioners can earn about $74,000 to $120,000 on an annual basis and also have a variety of career benefits like educational opportunities, bonuses and more.

Online Adult Nurse Practitioner Programs

A number of schools offer nursing programs online. These programs can be very suitable for the ones who cannot enroll in regular classes. As they are more flexible than campus-based programs, students can study at flexible hours and complete a degree at their own pace. Registered nurses that are already engaged professionally and are seeking advanced career options can enroll in the online programs and upgrade their career in a convenient manner.