How to become a nurse practitioner
Nursing practitioners opt for extra training and advanced skills to make their careers stand out so that they can claim that they are the best among many. After graduation, a nurse can continue practicing but that being said it’s also true that without training and certifications, they cannot practice their studies in hospitals as a registered nurse.
Sometimes, the nurses opt for a master’s degree to continue their education but they need a lot more to become the most sought-after nursing practitioner. So here are the steps that a nursing practitioner follows to become a practicing professional nurse.
Earn a bachelor’s degree:
The key milestone to become a nurse is first to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nursing school. Choosing a nursing degree immediately after high school is the direct route to becoming a practicing nurse, although it needs much more, the first step is going for a bachelor’s degree. These four-year programs usually include clinical components to teach skills like communications, management, supervision, and other clinical procedures.
Become a registered nurse:
This is the first step of a nurse to become professional in their field. Several academic paths are available for the nurses to get eligibility to qualify for the RN examination. The nursing students should choose a licensed practitioner nurse LPN exam at first to get their practicing license and then go for the registered nurse RN exam for gaining the credentials as a practitioner.
Obtain experience:
After getting a graduate degree, nurses should ideally work to gain experience. Some hospitals offer training programs for nursing graduates to provide them with expertise for further practicing. The nurses can use the experience to apply for the registration examination. Experience in nursing provides an in-depth knowledge of ethics, diagnosis and other aspects.
Obtain certification:
National certifications are available for the nursing practitioners depending on the examinations they apply for. The American Academy of nurse practitioners gives the credentials to the nursing students to make them professional practitioners. It makes them eligible to work for an accredited institution as a supervisor.
Types of degrees available:
Undergraduate nursing degree:
The students who are looking forward to becoming a nurse practitioner have a few options at the undergraduate level. Nursing students can opt for earning an associate degree and then moving on to a four-year bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree prepares students for being a registered nurse (RN) and also provides education for a master’s degree in nursing. This program is associated with classroom-based learning with a clinical module. Students take various courses on a variety of topics, for example, health assessments, emergency care, nutrition, and worldwide health, and current developments in nursing.
Masters in nursing:
A master’s in nursing is the minimum requirement of education to become a licensed nurse practitioner. Masters program encompasses professional core courses that give an in-depth look into subjects learned at the undergraduate level with clinical courses that focus on a nursing specialty. These include patient-focused roles that provide specific knowledge of functions designed to serve other nurses and industry professionals. Master’s degree programs can also prepare a student for a career as a clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator or nurse lecturer. They can set the groundwork for those who wish to pursue a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. The Master of Science program can be completed in two years.