Tips for How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Nov 8, 2014 | 8:00 am
In regard to all types of nursing degrees, the nurse practitioner is one of the most highly educated nursing entities in existence.
Education Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Nurses who aspire to become a nurse practitioner should begin early on planning and researching schools and programs in and around where they would like to live and practice. It should be considered, as well, which state the student will be residing in upon graduating the program. Oftentimes, transferring licensure from one state to another can be a difficult, lengthy process.
High school is a good time to begin the foundational studies of nursing. Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Anatomy, and Physiology would be good honors courses to take in preparation for becoming a nurse or nurse practitioner. Once in college, some of these classes may transfer as prerequisites and decrease the amount of time spent on basic courses. These are good background courses for sophomore college classes like Microbiology and college Chemistry.
Becoming a nurse practitioner is a lengthy process, but rewarding. At the beginning of the actual nurse training, a four-year degree must be acquired in order to move further into the upper nursing specialties. Becoming a registered nurse first is not mandatory, but it may help with being able to work part-time during the education process.
The nurse practitioner degree can take from 2 – 4 years beyond that of the four years degree. Becoming a nurse practitioner is somewhat like becoming a physician; they do more physician type of duties than actual nursing duties.
The extensive education requirements can resemble the requirements for medical physicians.
Misconceptions About How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Many people are misconstrued about nurse practitioners’ education and clinical backgrounds. Some believe they are just an advanced type of registered nurse who has no type of training for performing the role of a physician. The nurse practitioner is required to spend several years in postsecondary education and many clinical hours must be logged in for eligibility to become licensed.
The Playing Field
Nurse practitioners may be found in physicians’ offices, medical centers and hospitals. When working with a physician supervisor in a private office, the relationship between the nurse practitioner and physician is one of great advantage. The nurse practitioner takes much stress off of the physician and gives him or her more time to take care of reports and communications with other professionals involved in patient care. However, in some hospital settings, physicians may be professionally jealous and may give the nurse practitioner a difficult time. It is imperative that everyone keeps focus on the patient and the safe and purposeful outcome of the patient’s care.
Many patients actually love their nurse practitioners. It seems they are more relaxed and have an intrinsic interest in patient concerns. They are exceptionally knowledgeable and once a good rapport is built, patients can become extremely comfortable with their NP. Once the level of trust is established, there will be a more confident understanding of how the nurse practitioner is definitely a fresh addition to the medical field and wonderful patient advocate.