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Nurse Practitioners

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

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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.

Knowledge

Health
  • medicine and dentistry
  • therapy and counseling
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • biology
  • psychology
Business
  • customer service

Skills

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

Abilities

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

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Concern for Others
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software Hot Technology
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Internet browser software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Web browser software

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
master's degree or
doctoral degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Find Licenses Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$120,680
$79,470
$163,350
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about nurse practitioners.