Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. Wondering how to become a nurse practitioner? First, earn a B.S. in Nursing from an ABSN program. Pass the NCLEX, obtain an RN license, and gain clinical experience. Then, complete a graduate nursing degree, earn board certification, and get an APRN license
There are different levels of nursing. Registered nurses (RNs) can practice far more autonomously than licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs) have even greater autonomy compared to RNs. If you’re interested in pursuing a nursing career that allows you to serve as a nurse leader and mentor to other nurses, you may want to consider how to become a nurse practitioner.
Using a hybrid learning approach, Utica University provides an accessible nursing education in New York. Utica’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows you to take the first step toward an NP career by earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing in as few as 16 months after completing the degree requirements.
When planning your career pathway, it’s important to remember that earning a B.S. in Nursing is only the first step toward becoming an NP, as this type of nursing career is not entry-level. First, learn more about what an NP does and the types of nurse practitioners. Then, consider the nurse practitioner schooling and clinical experience requirements.
What is nursing school like? Learn what you can expect and how you should prepare.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). There are four main types of APRNs: Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). These professionals are at the top of the nursing career ladder and have more education and credentials compared to non-APRNs.
Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat acute and chronic health conditions. They emphasize preventive wellness, health management, and patient education, with a focus on holistic health. NPs can serve as nurse researchers, educators, mentors, clinicians, and administrators. They are advocates and leaders who work to maintain and advance professional standards.
What Does an NP Do?
There are different nurse practitioner specialties. An NP’s work often depends on their specialty. In general, however, an NP can do any of the nursing tasks that an RN can do, such as recording medical histories, taking vital signs, administering medications, and coordinating care. In addition, however, they can:
- Diagnose and treat illnesses, disorders, and injuries
- Perform physical exams
- Prescribe medications
- Write referrals to specialists
A nurse practitioner can serve as a primary care provider in many areas. Although NPs aren’t doctors, they have full practice authority in certain states. This means they can work independently and prescribe medications. In other states, NPs can prescribe medications under a doctor’s supervision.
Differences Between an NP vs. RN
Both NPs and RNs provide comprehensive care to inpatients or outpatients. There are significant differences, however. Compared to an RN, an NP:
- Has more education and specialized training
- Has board certification
- Makes higher-level clinical decisions
- Practices with greater autonomy
- Prescribes medications in certain states
- Has a higher earning potential and a stronger job growth rate than RNs
Types of Nurse Practitioners
Just like RNs, there are different nurse practitioner specialties. When you’re ready to pursue graduate-level nursing education, you must look for a degree program that aligns with your chosen NP specialty area. Some examples of NP specialties include:
- Family nurse practitioner (FNP): Provides primary care to patients across the lifespan, focusing on preventive wellness and patient education.
- Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP): Works with pediatric patients and their parents, providing screenings and evaluating development.
- Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP): Works with teenage and adult patients, including older patients facing age-related issues.
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP): Cares for patients with mental health disorders in inpatient or outpatient settings.
- Neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP): Often works in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), caring for premature or critically ill infants.
- Women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP): Specializes in women’s health, providing gynecologic care, including reproductive and sexual healthcare.
There are some opportunities to further specialize within those specialty areas. For example, a PNP may specialize in acute care (PNP-AC), meaning they work with young patients facing acute, critical, or complex health condition
Nurse Practitioner Schooling: Education, Work, and Licensure Requirements
If you’re eager to become an NP, you should first learn how to become a nurse practitioner to determine if the career pathway seems feasible with your goals.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
A nurse practitioner career is not an entry-level role, so advanced credentials and clinical experience are required. The first step toward an NP career is earning a B.S. in Nursing. If you lack a college education, you must enroll in a traditional four-year B.S. in Nursing program.
Alternatively, if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can earn a B.S. in Nursing in a second-degree program, such as Utica’s accelerated nursing program. Those with at least 65 non-nursing college credits may be eligible to apply to our Advanced Standing B.S. in Nursing program.
Utica offers a hybrid approach, which means you can complete your nursing coursework online on an interactive education platform that facilitates discussions with your nursing instructors and peers. You’ll complete in-person nursing skills and simulation labs to learn nursing tasks and develop clinical decision-making skills. Lastly, you’ll complete clinical rotations at various healthcare facilities throughout central New York to gain hands-on experience working with patients under supervision.
Curious about paying for nursing school? Scholarships, grants, and other financial aid options can help.
RN License
Even after graduating with a B.S. in Nursing, you aren’t quite an RN yet. You’ll first need to pass the NCLEX, the national licensure exam for future RNs. Most graduates take the NCLEX within a couple of months of graduating. You should use this time to undergo extensive exam prep, although it’s best to begin your exam prep as early as the first or second semester of nursing school. Once you pass the exam, you can obtain your state-issued RN license.
Clinical Experience
The next step to become a nurse practitioner is gaining clinical experience. It’s common for future NPs to gain at least a few years of experience at the bedside before pursuing further nursing education. Look for RN jobs in your chosen specialty area.
Graduate Degree in Nursing
When you’re ready to take the next step, research graduate nursing degree programs. The two main options are the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
The preference is for nurse practitioners to earn a DNP, a more intensive and extended degree program than an MSN. The DNP isn’t a strict career requirement yet, but there have been calls to make it the minimum requirement. You may want to earn a DNP instead of an MSN in case the minimum requirements for NPs change.
Board Certification
After completing your graduate-level education, you must pass a national certification exam to earn board certification in your chosen NP specialty area. Later, if you switch NP specialties, you can complete a certificate program in the new specialty rather than a certification.
APRN License
Like an RN, an APRN needs a state-issued license. Once you pass the board certification exam, you can receive your APRN license from the state where you plan to work.
Begin Your Nursing Journey at Utica University
Utica’s ABSN program offers a hybrid approach toward completing a B.S. in Nursing, the first step of nurse practitioner schooling requirements. It’s a flexible way to earn your nursing degree and become qualified to sit for the NCLEX. You can work one-on-one with an Academic Success Coach as you navigate the nursing coursework. Choose from three start dates each year, with no waitlist, and earn your B.S. in Nursing in as few as 16 months.
Contact an admission representative today to learn more about applying to our ABSN program in Syracuse or Albany, New York.
