Introduction to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
If you’re exploring how to become a nurse practitioner, you’re looking at a career that combines specialized healthcare skills with advanced clinical responsibilities. Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a vital role in patient care, often working alongside physicians to diagnose and treat illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and even provide preventive care.
This guide outlines the essential steps on how to become a nurse practitioner, from initial education to gaining certification and choosing a specialty. Whether you’re at the beginning of your nursing journey or considering an advanced degree, our tutoring services can help you excel at each stage of becoming an NP.
Step 1: Earn Your Registered Nursing (RN) License
The path to becoming a nurse practitioner starts with becoming a registered nurse (RN). This foundational step is essential because only after you are licensed as an RN can you advance to the next stages of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Complete a Nursing Program (ADN or BSN)
To become an RN, you will first need to complete a nursing program. There are two primary paths: an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
- ADN Program: This is typically a 2-3 year program offered at community colleges or technical schools. An ADN provides essential nursing education and prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, which is required for licensure.
- BSN Program: A BSN typically takes four years to complete and is offered by universities and colleges. This degree provides a broader scope of education, including leadership, community health, and research, in addition to clinical nursing skills. A BSN is not only required for many advanced nursing roles, including nurse practitioner programs, but it also makes you a more competitive candidate in the job market.
Many aspiring nurse practitioners opt for a BSN because it lays a stronger foundation for graduate-level nursing education and opens doors to various career opportunities within the nursing field. Some nurse practitioner programs require a BSN as a prerequisite for admission.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
Once you have completed a nursing program, whether ADN or BSN, the next step is to pass the NCLEX-RN exam (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). The NCLEX-RN is a standardized exam that assesses your ability to provide safe and effective nursing care across a wide range of scenarios.
Passing the NCLEX-RN is crucial to obtaining your RN license, which is the first step toward becoming a nurse practitioner. The NCLEX-RN covers topics such as patient care, health promotion, and safety. Our personalized tutoring services can help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, ensuring you are well-prepared to pass on your first attempt.
Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, you will be officially licensed as a registered nurse, allowing you to start your career and begin gaining the necessary clinical experience to move forward in the path of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Step 2: Gain Clinical Experience as an RN
After obtaining your RN license, gaining clinical experience is crucial. In many cases, nurse practitioner programs require candidates to have at least one to two years of experience working as an RN before applying. Clinical experience allows you to develop essential skills in patient care, diagnosis, and treatment—skills that are critical when you transition into an advanced practice role as a nurse practitioner.
Importance of Clinical Experience
During your time as an RN, you will be exposed to a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. You will gain hands-on experience with patient assessments, medical procedures, patient education, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. This experience is essential as you prepare to take on more advanced roles as a nurse practitioner.
Having experience as an RN also allows you to identify potential NP specialties that align with your interests and strengths. For instance, if you have a strong interest in pediatrics, you may choose to work in pediatric nursing as an RN, which will give you the experience necessary to pursue a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) specialty later on.
Step 3: Enroll in a Nurse Practitioner Degree Program
Once you have gained the necessary clinical experience, you can apply for a nurse practitioner degree program. There are two primary educational pathways to becoming a nurse practitioner: the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Choosing Between an MSN and DNP for NP Preparation
- MSN Programs: The Master of Science in Nursing is the more traditional and common route for aspiring nurse practitioners. These programs typically take two to three years to complete and focus on advanced clinical skills and knowledge. MSN programs prepare students for NP roles in various specialties, such as family practice, pediatrics, and acute care. You’ll also complete clinical hours to gain hands-on experience in your chosen specialty.
- DNP Programs: The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a more advanced degree that emphasizes leadership in clinical practice and healthcare systems. While a DNP is not always required to become an NP, it is becoming increasingly popular for those who want to take on leadership or academic roles, as well as those who wish to drive change in healthcare policy. The standard time for completing DNP programs is between three and four years with greater emphasis on clinical practice and research components.
Both MSN and DNP programs are good paths to the nurse practitioner licensure but it is key to determine which incentives the career goals will be the most oriented towards. If healthcare leadership, policy, and academia are where a person wants to be, then a DNP might be the best option.
Selecting an NP Specialty
A further major consideration revolves around NP specialties. Nurse practitioners can focus on relatively many specialties, including:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): The most common NP specialty, FNPs provide comprehensive care across the lifespan, from infants to older adults.
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP): Specializing in pediatric care, PNPs focus on the health of children and adolescents.
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP): Treats patients with very serious trauma or illness in critical care units.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): This specialty focuses a lot more on mental health as well as earnest issues about patients’ moods, etc.
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP): AGNPs are concerned with the management of complex regimes concerning the health of aging patients.
One of the most important decisions you will make in life is deciding what specialty to pursue and it must be based on your preferences and future career plans. Whether you want to be dealing with kids or with parents or particularized with working, there is a wealth of options available.
Our tutoring services are designed to help you succeed in specialized NP courses and clinical requirements, ensuring you excel in the specialty you choose.
For a breakdown of NP specialty salaries by state, see the Nursing License Map, which provides detailed information on career prospects.
Step 4: Complete Clinical Hours and Coursework Requirements
Every nurse practitioner program will have two components which include undertaking coursework and clinical hours. For instance, clinical hours are very crucial because they allow a nurse practitioner student to practice and learn under the supervision of an accredited NP or physician.
NP programs include advanced coursework in topics like pharmacology, pathophysiology, health assessment, and diagnostics. It is also likely that you will be dealing with disease processes related to your specific specialty. All these clinical hours and coursework need to be achieved to fully become competent for which the expectations would be from the nurse practitioner role.
Step 5: Pass Your NP Certification Exam
Once you have completed your NP degree, the next step is to pass a national NP certification exam in your chosen specialty. Certification exams are administered by certification bodies such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Preparing for National NP Certification Exams
The certification exams are intended to assess the knowledge and clinical judgment ability of the candidate concerning the specialty area. It is a prerequisite to be qualified in these exams in order to practice as an NP. The Memoid study techniques and strategies have been developed specifically for NP applicants targeting these tough examinations so that core principles are clear and ready to be projected in performance.
Contact us today for personalized NP exam tutoring support to boost your exam confidence and ensure your success in becoming a certified nurse practitioner.
Step 6: Obtain State Licensure and Begin Practicing as a Nurse Practitioner
Once you clear the exam for the certification provided by national boards, it is time to seek a license from the state to practice as a nurse practitioner. There are specified requirements for different licensing in various states, but broadly, it includes providing proof of your certification and a particular number of clinical hours. Continuing education is also needed in some other states to keep the license active. After you get a license, it is possible to start working as an NP providing advanced care and improving the health of patients.
For more information about average NP salaries across the U.S. and state-specific requirements, visit IntelyCare’s Nurse Salary Guide.
Conclusion
How to become a nurse practitioner is a journey that involves completing nursing education, gaining clinical experience, obtaining advanced degrees, passing certification exams, and earning state licensure. Each step brings you closer to achieving your goal of becoming an advanced practice nurse with specialized knowledge and skills.
We understand that the path to NP certification can be challenging, but with personalized tutoring support, you can succeed at every stage.
Contact Us for Tutoring Support to Excel in Your NP Program and Achieve Your Career Goals
As you move forward in your career, remember that your journey to becoming a nurse practitioner is a rewarding one, and the advanced nursing degree you earn will allow you to provide high-quality care to those who need it most.
