Types

• There are numerous types of nurse practitioner careers with a range of specialties to choose from. Nearly all nurse practitioner careers require a minimum of a master's degree in the particular nursing specialty, and there is a push to require nurse practitioners to hold doctorate degrees in nursing practice. The specialties that nurse practitioners may hold include:
  Acute care
  Family health
  Psychiatric and mental health
  Women's health
  Pediatric care
  Oncology
  Neonatal intensive care
  Gerontology
  Adult health
  Nurse anesthetist
  
  

Function

• Scope of practice for nurse practitioners varies from state to state. In some states, nurse practitioners can practice at the same level as physicians--seeing patients as primary care providers, ordering tests and interpreting results, and prescribing medication. In other states, nurse practitioners have lower levels of responsibility and must work under physician supervision. Before pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner, check your state's requirements.
  
  

Time Frame

• You will need a minimum of a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), as well as a registered nurse license, to practice as any type of advanced practice nurse. To be a nurse practitioner, however, you will almost always need a minimum of a master of science in nursing--and sometimes a doctor of nursing practice degree. That can add up to a number of years in school--at least 2 years to get a registered nurse license, followed by another 2 years to complete the BSN. The MSN degree will require roughly about 2 more years, and different MSN degree programs may require work experience as a nurse before applicants can be admitted. A doctor of nursing practice degree may or may not require the applicant to already have an MSN degree. Thus, when all that adds up, count on a minimum of 6 years of college to become a nurse practitioner if you have no experience in the field.
  
  

Benefits

• The demand for nurse practitioners is likely to grow, especially with projected shortages of physicians. Fewer and fewer medical students are choosing primary care as a specialty, so the odds are good that nurse practitioners will become the obvious choice to pick up the demand. In addition, many health care facilities consider nurse practitioners to be more cost-effective than physicians, so that will add to the demand for workers in the profession.
  Becoming a nurse practitioner can also be an interesting career choice for people who are interested in health care but are unable to attend medical school, either for financial reasons or because of family and life commitments. Many nurse practitioner degree programs are on a part-time or distance-learning basis to allow employed registered nurses to seek higher education while keeping their jobs and supporting their families. This also allows interested individuals to take a stepladder approach to the profession and work their way up to higher levels of responsibility, in contrast to medical students who must complete their entire education before seeking physician licensure.
  
  

Salary Potential

• Salary potential varies from one nurse practitioner specialty to the next, but according to most estimates, a nurse practitioner can expect to earn at least $70,000 to $80,000 per year, with variations by geographical region and type of employer. Nurse anesthetists can potentially earn salaries as high as $160,000 a year, so there is definite salary potential within the profession.