Nurse Practitioner Jobs 2025

An advanced clinically educated and trained nurse is known as a nurse practitioner (NP). Doctors and NPs both perform many of the same tasks. Physical examinations, disease diagnosis and treatment, and medicine prescription are all things they do. An advanced degree in education is required for a nurse practitioner.

To work as a nurse practitioner, you first need to become a registered nurse (RN). You can become an RN by enrolling in an associate’s in nursing (ADN) program. An other choice is a BSN in nursing program. Nurses frequently complete a few years of professional experience before continuing their education. You must finish advanced clinical training in addition to completing the education and licensing requirements to become an RN. If you already have your BSN, the next step to become a nurse practitioner is to enroll in a graduate program. This could be a course leading to a doctor of nursing practice or a master’s in nursing. For certain of the subspecialty NP curriculum programs, experience as an RN for at least a year or two may be required before enrolling in an MSN program. Once you earn your MSN or DNP, you must get your license for advanced practice nursing. The state has a licensing procedure in place. The qualifications for nurse practitioners vary by state. Obtain NP Licensure by passing the National Certification Board Exam.

The duties of nurse practitioners are somewhat similar to those of registered nurses. However, an NP’s duties are more extensive than those of an RN. Advanced nursing care is provided to patients by nurse practitioners. The following responsibilities are commonly anticipated to be performed by nurse practitioners on a daily basis: a. Keeping accurate medical records, recording patient medical histories, including current symptoms and medications, and ensuring diagnoses are correct. b. Performing routine inspections and assessments in detail. c. Monitoring patients and reviewing test results. d. Making customized treatment plans. e. Referring patients so they can receive the necessary care. f. Prescribing drugs and keeping track of outcomes. g. Ordering diagnostic tests and imaging tests .

Yes, a nurse practitioner is the only nursing level that is permitted to prescribe and deliver prescription drugs, though even this varies from state to state based on how the nursing board defines their scope of practice.

A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing is necessary for nurse practitioners. As a result, becoming a nurse practitioner often requires six to eight years of education.

No, although there is some similarities, there are certain clear differences between physicians and nurse practitioners. The duration of training is where there is the most contrast between the two. NPs receive less training than doctors while having more education than registered nurses. Additionally, their licenses vary.

A nurse practitioner makes, on average, $63.24 per hour.

A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an expert in treating patients of all ages for both general and specialty care. FNPs generally concentrate on providing preventative treatment, keeping an eye on patients’ long-term health, and assisting doctors with any problems that may occur. 

Both NP (Nurse Practitioner) School and PA (Physician Assistant) School are demanding and need a large commitment of time, energy, and effort, therefore it’s impossible to determine which is harder. Both programs feature demanding curriculum that call on learners to have a solid grasp of medical science as well as clinical expertise and patient care. It’s crucial to explore and contrast the two programs to see whether one would be a better fit for you because the precise requirements and content of each program may vary.

Yes. Adderall can often be prescribed by NPs. Adderall belongs to the Schedule II group of medicines, which are those having a high risk of abuse and the potential to cause serious psychological or physical dependence. Despite the fact that the substance is legal, dependence can develop. The majority of states grant nurse practitioners the ability to prescribe Schedule II medicines. However, some States need that NPs sign a collaboration agreement with a doctor in order to administer certain medications.

Perhaps asking the NP directly is the best course of action if an introduction is not made. NPs typically engage in casual conversations, which makes working with people by their first names both helpful and natural.

Beginning at an accredited nursing school, one can pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. You must have at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in order to enroll in a graduate school because becoming a PMHNP needs a graduate degree. You must first finish and pass the NCLEX-RN, the official test for RN licensure, in order to become a registered nurse (RN). After that, you can submit an application for a state RN license. The next step is to submit an application to a master’s or doctoral program in psychiatric nurse practitioner that is accredited. You must also complete 500 clinical hours in a program run by faculty that is relevant to your work as a PMHNP in order to be certified. This could occur at a medical center, a personal practice, or a mental health facility. You can apply to take the Nursing Credentialing Center’s psychiatric nurse practitioner test once you have earned your advanced degree and clinical hours.

In California, nurse practitioners make an average salary of $151,830 per year, or $72.99 per hour.

To become a nurse practitioner, you don’t need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or any prior nursing experience. To become a licensed nurse practitioner, however, you will need an advanced or graduate degree. There are programs that allow registered nurses (RNs) to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as well as MSN programs that accept students directly without a BSN. They make it possible for anyone looking to switch careers and hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in another field to enter the nursing field. The duration of these programs, which normally last two to four years, includes general necessary nursing courses.  After graduating, you’ll probably need to gain clinical experience in order to become certified as a nurse practitioner and then apply for state licensure. 

A registered nurse with advanced practice training in mental health who treats patients is known as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Because they have the training and experience to care for patients of all ages with mental health issues, these nurses are different from RNs. In addition, they have the training and experience necessary to identify and treat individuals with mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.

Yes. Visiting a nurse practitioner is typically an effective and efficient way to receive treatment for patients who require routine procedures that don’t call for expert diagnosis and treatment.

Texas’s average nurse practitioner wage is $114,708 per year or $85.21 per hour.

• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Acute or Primary Care)
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners offer patients and their families a variety of mental health treatment and support services in their capacity as licensed advanced practice nurses.
• Psychiatric NPs provide holistic treatment programs that highlight a dynamic degree of educational and professional support tailored to each patient’s psychiatric requirements, in addition to collaborating with doctors to establish a diagnosis and administer medication.
• Psychiatric NPs can pursue other specialties within the mental health field based on their level of schooling and can work in a range of positions, including general psychiatric examinations and diagnosis, counseling, and research. Whatever your role as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, it’s crucial to lead with compassion for your patients because they probably have little choice over how they interpret or process their diagnosis.

While physician’s assistant typically concentrate on a particular area of medicine, such as emergency, internal, or surgical specialties, nurse practitioners typically specialize in treating a certain patient “population” that focuses on patients who may be of a certain age or have a particular disease.

The typical Family Nurse Practitioner pay is $116,510.

In Florida, a nurse practitioner makes an average of $107,818 annually.

A key difference between physicians and NPs is the fact that all doctors can administer medications to patients as a part of their duties. In some states, nurse practitioners must be directly supervised by a doctor or physician to prescribe medication.

Nurse practitioners are not allowed to prescribe banned narcotics or medical cannabis for themselves, members of their family, or anyone else who is not a patient they are seeing in their official role. Except for a minor/episodic ailment and only in cases where there is no other prescriber accessible, nurse practitioners do not prescribe non-controlled medications and substances for themselves or a member of their family. And a blank, signed prescription is never given to anyone by a nurse practitioner.

Every year, during the second week of November, Nurse Practitioner Week is observed to honor these remarkable healthcare professionals and to highlight the vital role they play in promoting overall health and wellbeing.

Nurse practitioners, like registered nurses, work in a variety of settings and specialties, including hospitals, ERs, surgical clinics, pediatric care, government organizations, and managed care institutions.

A primary care provider (PCP) is a medical professional who treats patients with common health issues. Doctors are most frequently this person. However, a PCP could also be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Yes. In order to prescribe narcotics, nurse practitioners need a federal DEA number.

Surgery is not something that nurse practitioners (NPs) are trained to do. NPs are registered nurses with advanced education and training (APRNs) who have graduated from nursing programs above the RN level. They have the legal authority to order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and treat medical disorders, and prescribe medications. The NPs are not qualified to do surgery, despite the fact that they have a broad scope of practice and may address many different medical diseases.

They can start their own practice after passing the licensing exam and receiving their Nurse Practitioner Designation. In full-practice states, nurse practitioners have the same freedom to open and run their own independent practices as doctors do.

Travel Nurse Practitioners (NP) make around $140,086 per year, or $67 per hour. However, location and specialty are frequently correlated with the pay. The top-earning travel nurse practitioners can make up to $243,500 annually.

Pediatric nurse practitioners can make an average of $102,409 annually. The usual salary range for pediatric nurse practitioners is $62,000 to $168,000 per year with $49.24 per hour on average.

After earning your degree, you must become a registered nurse (RN) in order to practice as a family nurse practitioner. You must first pass the NCLEX and then obtain a master’s of science in nursing (MSN). The nurse practitioner (NP) program within an MSN is one of the several specialties available if you’re interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner. After passing your national certification board exams, you will apply for your first NP license through a licensing board or professional association in the state where you wish to practice. Work as a family nurse practitioner to start your career.

In specifically, completing your BSN, which normally takes four years, is the first step towards becoming an aesthetic nurse practitioner. After getting your BSN, you have the option of applying right away to graduate school or choosing to work for a couple of years before enrolling. You will need another two to three years once you start graduate school, depending on whether you enroll full- or part-time and whether your program includes summer classes. If you decide to finish your DNP after receiving your MSN, one or two additional years may be added. If you want to become a certified aesthetic nurse practitioner after receiving your APRN licensure, it is advised that you first become a certified aesthetic nursing specialist. You must complete two years of work in one of the key specializations and pass the exam to be certified.

A medical doctor’s or physician’s education has given them a deeper understanding of and experience in the healthcare industry. They have the ability to examine patients, request lab tests, and even assess patients’ physical and mental wellbeing. They can also execute and participate in surgeries, deliver babies, prescribe and administer medications and treatments, and offer emergency, acute, prenatal, and postnatal care. Some doctors also have administrative responsibilities, such as overseeing or coordinating patient care and informing the appropriate authorities about events like births, deaths, and contagious diseases. Nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, treat, and monitor a wide range of health issues, but in complex cases, when things require their knowledge or expertise, they must speak with doctors and other healthcare professionals and work together. Although their scope is somewhat constrained in comparison to a medical doctor, they are skilled in the management of chronic diseases and play a significant role in health promotion and sickness prevention.

A new law known as AB 890 was enacted in California in 2020 and gave nurse practitioners (NPs) a method to practice without a doctor’s supervision and approval. NP independent practice, sometimes known as “independent practice,” “autonomous practice,” or “complete practice authority,” has grown widespread in many states (FPA). The majority of states choose to make it simple for NPs to obtain FPA, either by making it automatic when they are granted a license or by needing a term of practice under the supervision of a physician. California has made the unusual decision to pursue independence in two stages. Due to the statutory clause that establishes the first of the two tiers, the Board refers to it as “103 NP.” Prior to the passage of AB 890, NPs had to follow a set of “standardized procedures” while working with a doctor. These processes required the physician to examine and monitor the NP’s practice, but they did not need that they be present at the NP’s practice location constantly. The caveat is that the NP must work at a site where one or more doctors and surgeons also work in order to practice under the provision. Because established NPs may work in smaller, more rural clinics or medical spas, where a doctor isn’t generally on site, it will be challenging for them to use their newfound independence from supervision documentation. The term “104 NP” refers to the second tier. Like the 103 NP, this type of nurse practitioner is likewise allowed to practice without following set protocols. The main distinction is that the 104 NP practitioners are not constrained to regions where physicians also work. As a result, this category of NP would be considered “independent” and be free to work anywhere without having a formal supervision relationship with a doctor.

Candidates must have a current NP state license, at least a master’s degree in nursing, be nationally certified as a nurse practitioner, and at least 3,000 hours of practice in dermatology to be eligible to become a certified dermatology NP.

Complete a BSN program and pass the NCLEX-RN. You can apply for a nursing license in the state where you want to practice once you have passed the NCLEX. A master’s of science in nursing is generally always the postgraduate degree required of neonatal nurse practitioners (MSN). You can apply to the National Certification Corporation for certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner after earning your MSN from an accredited neonatal program. The state of your choice will grant you a license after you pass the exam, allowing you to start working as a neonatal nurse practitioner.

As more states consider passing laws to increase NP jurisdiction, the list is likely to expand. Here are currently the following states that have full practice authority:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawai
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wyoming.

Due to Texas’ adoption of the “reduced practice” regulation, Texas NPs are unable to utilize all of their education and training and conduct independent business in Texas. You will only be able to perform a limited set of duties, which is typically less than your full ability as an NP.

Yes. In addition to writing prescriptions, NPs with full prescribing authority can prescribe controlled substances on their own.

Yes. As a nurse practitioner, it’s important to look professional so that patients, coworkers, and other health care professionals can trust and respect you. A lab coat can be an important piece of clothing for a nurse practitioner because it demonstrates their knowledge and keeps them looking professional.

In 2025, a neonatal nurse practitioner will make an average of $53 per hour, or $108,653 a year.

In New York State, the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $132,121 per year, or $98.15 per hour.

In Ohio, a nurse practitioner makes an average of $81.98 per hour or $110,363 per year.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner makes an average of $145,561 per year, or $62.50 per hour.

Neither job is “higher” than the other. Both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) work in the health care field, but they have different skills, education, and responsibilities. They also do different kinds of work.

One type of APRN is a nurse practitioner (NP). Certified nurse midwives (CNMs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are the other types of APRN. These nurses diagnose and treat both short-term and long-term illnesses. They do physical exams, make treatment plans, and in some states, they can even prescribe medications.

A PNP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in caring for newborns, infants, toddlers, teens, and young adults. PNPs focus on well-child care and preventing or treating common short-term and long-term illnesses in children.

Registered nurses and nurse practitioners both care for and watch over patients. The biggest difference between the two jobs is that nurse practitioners (NPs) are allowed to prescribe treatments, order tests, and diagnose patients, which are usually done by doctors, but RNs are not. On the other hand, registered nurses usually work under a doctor who decides how to care for, diagnose, and follow up with a patient.

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse who has undergone greater education and training in clinical settings. NPs have many of the same responsibilities as doctors. They do physical exams, find and treat diseases and other health problems, and write prescriptions for medicines. A nurse practitioner needs to have a degree at the graduate level.

Yes, nurse practitioners can give someone with an anxiety disorder a prescription for medicine.

The Florida Board of Nursing and the Florida Department of Health say that  nurse practitioners can work on their own if they have a signed protocol with a doctor.

For some states, nurse practitioners must work under the supervision of physicians.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) usually work 40 hours per week, with shifts that can last anywhere from 8 to 12 hours.

In the U.S., there are more than 355,000 licensed nurse practitioners (NPs).

In Michigan, a nurse practitioner makes an average of $115,354 per year, or $85.69 per hour.

In its “Frequently Asked Questions” document about the AANP certification exams, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) gives a standard way to list credentials. Listing NP credentials in a standard way is “especially important because consumers, insurance companies, credentialing bodies, and government officials or entities require or expect it,” the document says. The AANPCB suggests putting credentials and degrees in this order:

• The highest degree in nursing or something related to it.
• Nursing license.
• Certification for nurses.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, have the highest salaries as nurse practitioners. On average, they make more than $200,000 per year. A CRNA gives anesthesia, which is medicine that stops you from feeling pain. They can give you medicine before a procedure, but they can also treat things like chronic pain.

The NONPF said it had committed to moving all nurse practitioner (NP) education at the entry-level to the DNP degree by 2025.

As long as they follow HUD rules, nurse practitioners can write ESA letters.

Antidepressants and many other pharmaceuticals fall outside these categories because they are noncontrolled substances. NPs can prescribe these medications, along with other Schedule II-V drugs.

Yes. The NPI is a unique number that will be given to health care providers by the federal government. It is meant to make the health care system run better and cut down on fraud and abuse.

The average amount a Nurse Practitioner makes each month is $10,961.

A neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) is a registered nurse who has had more training in caring for babies. The NNP will take care of newborn babies who need emergency care because they were born too early, got sick, were born with birth defects, or had organs that didn’t form right. A neonatal nurse practitioner will check babies’ health, get their medical history, order lab and diagnostic tests, make a diagnosis, and give babies medicine.

A critical communication link for all healthcare workers is provided by acute care nurse practitioners. For patients who are critically and acutely unwell, ACNPs choose the course of their medical treatment. Making decisions that could save lives in hectic situations is one of their responsibilities. The duties of an ACNP often include intubation, care management, and (in some cases) pharmaceutical prescription.   In the hospital setting, ACNPs care for patients of various ages with a variety of acute diseases. Among these are potentially life-threatening illnesses or injuries, as well as neurological, respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, or psychiatric conditions that demand immediate medical attention or surgery. Depending on the situation, ACNPs could assess patients while doing rounds or get ready patients for surgery. In order to give care, the majority of them operate as a team alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals.

The abbreviation for nurse practitioner is NP.

Yes. Nurse practitioners are among the few medical experts who can diagnose ADHD.

Generally speaking, yes, NPs can work as RNs.

A nexus letter should only be written by a medical expert with the necessary training. Non-doctors, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, may write them under specific conditions. VA will, however, find a disability nexus letter from a physician with the pertinent specialty more convincing.

Yes. A nurse midwife or a nurse practitioner can do Pap smears and other associated gynecological exams. These exams will more likely be performed by nurse practitioners who have, through their training and education, developed a specialty in gynecological health.

Yes, although not all nurse practitioners have the skills necessary to intubate patients. Intubations are typically performed by acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs), nurse practitioners who have obtained special training to operate in emergency medicine settings. These nurse practitioners are required to conduct a variety of independently performed duties in addition to performing intubations, including admitting patients to the hospital, suturing wounds, referring patients to specialists, and performing artery punctures.

A new law known as AB 890 was approved in California in 2020 and it gave nurse practitioners (NPs) a method to practice without a doctor’s supervision and approval.