Becoming A Nurse Practitioner

Everyone at some point in their life has made a trip to either the doctor’s office or the hospital. Many times, it can take hours to finally get seen by a doctor, and sitting in the waiting room is the last thing a person that is ill wants to do. According to Ann Hamric, Judith Spross, and Charlene Hanson (2009, 87) , their book Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative Approach states: “ The APN role that has shown the most significant growth is the NP. The number of RNs educated as NPs increased by 43.5% between 2000 and 2004 and more than doubled from 1996 to 2004.” Nurse Practitioners are growing increasingly popular in the hospital scene for a number of reasons. A Nurse Practitioner, commonly known as an NP, has the ability to prescribe
According to Hamric, Spross, and Hanson (2009, 79), “The three primary criteria for advanced practice nursing... include an earned graduate degree, with a concentration in advanced practice nursing role and specialty, national certification of practice at an advanced level within a given specialty, and a practice that is focused on patients and their families. ” Having such high requirements ensures that NPs know their field inside and out. In addition to earning a bachelor degree, it is often more accepted to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree, along with gaining five hundred hours of clinical practice. Requiring a Master’s degree, along with clinical experience, not only gives future NPs the experience they one day will need working in a hospital, but it also pushes them to their full potential and develops a good work
Hamric, Spross, and Hanson (2009, 88) state that “NPs, whether in primary care or acute care, possess advanced health assessment, diagnostic, and clinical management skills that include pharmacology management. The classic NP role provides primary health care focused on wellness and prevention; NP practice also includes caring for patients with minor, common acute conditions and stable chronic conditions.” The main role of an NP is focused on the wellness of patients, whether a minor injury, or a chronic illness, a nurse practitioner has the capability to care for patients needs. Along with treating illness, an NP will be expected to diagnose illness, conduct x-rays, examine medical history, and have a general understanding of their patients health needs and make decisions based on the future health of their patient. By understanding the tasks they will be expected to perform, a person considering becoming an NP will feel more prepared and ready when they enter the busy hospital