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Career Exploration

Nurse Practitioners

Also called: ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner (NP)

What they do:

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

On the job, you would:
  • Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.
  • Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
  • Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.
On the job, you'll need:

Health

  • medicine and dentistry
  • therapy and counseling

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • biology
  • psychology

Business

  • customer service

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • looking for ways to help people

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns
  • quickly know what you are looking at

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time

Investigative

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Concern for Others
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Stress Tolerance

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • Epic Systems

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Internet browser software

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Web browser software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $121,610

Education

Master's degree or doctoral degree is usually needed.