Nurse practitioners

SOC Code: 29-1171
Also known as:
ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Advanced Practice Provider, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Median Annual Salary
$129,210
+40.1% growth (2024-2034)
30K
Openings/Year
320K
Current Jobs

What Nurse practitioners 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.

💰 Salary

$129,210
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+40.1%
Much faster than average

🎓 Education

Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

30K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

320,400

Projected Employment (2034)

448,800

Related Careers

Registered nurses

$93,600 • +4.9% growth

Family medicine physicians

$238,380 • +2.7% growth

Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Writing

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
  • Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.
  • Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.
  • Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
  • Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.
  • Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.

Technology & Tools

eClinicalWorks EHR software Epic Systems MEDITECH software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

Master's degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Nurse practitioners

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a nurse practitioners:

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

14,847 degrees awarded • 292 colleges offer this program

Nursing Practice

9,206 degrees awarded • 316 colleges offer this program

Nursing Administration

7,911 degrees awarded • 198 colleges offer this program

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing

4,379 degrees awarded • 163 colleges offer this program

Nursing Science

4,245 degrees awarded • 150 colleges offer this program

Adult Health Nurse/Nursing

2,457 degrees awarded • 78 colleges offer this program

Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing

1,505 degrees awarded • 20 colleges offer this program

Geriatric Nurse/Nursing

641 degrees awarded • 45 colleges offer this program

Critical Care Nursing

596 degrees awarded • 40 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a Nurse practitioners

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become nurse practitioners.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 222 A+
2 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 157 A+
3 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 431 A
4 Duke University Durham, NC 373 A
5 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 246 A
6 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 233 A
7 New York University New York, NY 150 A
8 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 147 A
9 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 139 A
10 Emory University Atlanta, GA 127 A
11 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 221 B+
12 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 202 B+
13 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY 171 B+
14 CUNY Hunter College New York, NY 166 B+
15 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 160 B+
16 Florida International University Miami, FL 149 B+
17 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ 149 B+
18 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 143 B+
19 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL 317 B
20 George Washington University Washington, DC 227 B

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nurse practitioners make?
The median annual salary for nurse practitioners is $129,210.
What education do nurse practitioners need?
Most nurse practitioners positions require a master's degree. Common degree programs include Family Practice Nurse/Nursing, Nursing Practice, Nursing Administration.
Is becoming nurse practitioners a good career choice?
Nurse practitioners is projected to see +40.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 29,500 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for nurse practitioners?
Top colleges for aspiring nurse practitioners include University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Vanderbilt University, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to nurse practitioners?
Nurse practitioners may also be known as: ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Advanced Practice Provider, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist), Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, CPNP (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), Dermatology Nurse Practitioner, Electrophysiology Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Family Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.