Nurse Practitioners
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.
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
- Epic Systems
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Internet browser software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Web browser software
Education
Education: (rated 5 of 5)
master's degree or
doctoral degree
usually needed
doctoral degree
usually needed
Job Outlook
Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Explore More
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Registered Nurses
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about nurse practitioners.