What do 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.
Also known as:
ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist), Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner
No Data Available
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9.2%
Change
Ranks #43 in job growth rate1,030Job Openings
Ranks #8 in net job growth
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- Master's degree (73%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (17%)
- Bachelor's degree (8%)
- High school diploma equivalent (1%)
- Some college, no degree (1%)
- Associate's degree (<1%)
- Less than high school diploma (<1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Nurse Practitioners
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#1
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Degrees Granted
2,526
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Female Students
2,222
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Male Students
304
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Median Starting Salary
$57,500
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#2
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Degrees Granted
1,581
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Female Students
1,379
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Male Students
202
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Median Starting Salary
$57,500
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#3
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Degrees Granted
1,502
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Female Students
1,283
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Male Students
219
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Median Starting Salary
$57,500
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#4
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Degrees Granted
970
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Female Students
861
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Male Students
109
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Median Starting Salary
$57,500
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#5
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Degrees Granted
712
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Female Students
618
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Male Students
94
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Median Starting Salary
$57,500
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People in this career often have these skills:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Record patient medical histories.
- Develop medical treatment plans.
- Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Diagnose medical conditions.
- Treat medical emergencies.
- Prescribe medications.
- Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
- Prescribe treatments or therapies.
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
- Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.
- Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
- Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.
- Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
- Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
- Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
- Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
- Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.
- Immunize patients.
- Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.
- Advise patients on healthcare system processes.
- Supervise patient care personnel.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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