Nurse Practitioners Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How much an hour do Nurse Practitioners make? I am going for my Master's and already a RN with my BSN but I am attaining my masters along with the NP/Physician assistant program. How much do Nurse Practitioners make an hour?

Answer: Nurse Practitioners are professionals and as professionals do not usually work for an hourly wage. Most Nurse practitioners negotiate an annual salary and work the number of hours necessary to accomplish their work. When I was a nurse practitioner some weeks I would work 30 hours, most I would work 56-60. It is the tradition of working for an hourly wage which is one of the hurdles preventing nursing from being considered as a profession. However, Nurse Practitioners and the other nurses working at the advanced practice level, normally are considered professionals by the others in the health care professions. The Salary range in Philadelphia is from $68,000 - $158,000 with an average starting salary around $74,000 per yr.

Question: What do you think of Nurse Practitioners as medical providers? I went to see a nurse practitioner and she spent more time with me, talked to me and actually listened to what I had to say. I have never experienced that before. What are your experiences with nurse practitioners as compared to MD's, DO's and Physician Assistants?

Answer: It's not the title that's good or bad or better. It's the person who holds that title. Some people are more dedicated, caring, knowledgable and intelligent than other medical practioners. You just have to find theses people, regardless of their title.

Question: What do psychiatric nurse practitioners do? Do psychiatric nurse practitioners have counselling sessions with patients like a psychiatrist would? Is there much demand for this type of nurse practitioners? What is a typical day like for them?

Answer: They essentially are high level nurse who works under a doctors practicing licenses. As a psychiatric nurse practitioners you will be able to care, assess, diagnose, and manage the treatment of psychiatric patients. And they can work in both hospitals or clinics. So in short they area nurse that can practice as if they are a doctor, but technically there doing all their work under the supervision/eye of a real doctor.

Question: How much do pediatric nurse practitioners make in California? Are they somewhat like doctors? I am debating whether I should be a pediatrician or nurse practitioner. Thing is I don't think I can make it through all the science classes. I know that either way I still have to take science. well thanks for the help.

Answer: Here's a link from PayScale.com showing median pediatric nurse practitioner salaries in California as well as other states: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=… And here are a couple other links that you might find helpful. The first shows median family nurse practitioner salaries: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=… And the second is a more general comparison of nurse practitioner salaries: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=… Hope that helps

Question: Do all nurses who do MSN become Nurse Practitioners? What is the difference between an APN and a NP? APN (Advance Practice Nurse) and NP (Nurse Practitioner). Do APN and NPs work in acute care settings too and are hospital unit directors usually ANP or NPs? By 'all nuses' i mean all practicing nurses who've not changed fields and still do bedside care.

Answer: A lot of people with MSN's go into administrative work, teaching...not enough into teaching.

Question: can nurse practitioners give physicals and medical exams? I need to get a medical examination on my own time and money from a physician and didn't know how hard it is to schedule one within a reasonable amount of time. My mom is a secretary in the medical field and said if worst comes to worse her nurse practitioner may be able to do the medical exam. Is this legit? Are nurse practitioners allowed to give physicals just like any other physician?

Answer: Yes. CNPs can do physicals exams. One or more CNPs or PAs (physician's assistance) may work under an MD. They do need supervision by an MD but can handle routine cases more or less independently. In fact, many MDs don't even do the basic exams anymore. If the CNP finds something alarming, he/she may need to call in a physician. It's perfectly legit.

Question: Are Nurse Practitioners autonomous and responsible for their actions? Do they stand on their own feet, so to speak, or do they have someone they have to get approval from first before diagnosing patients, like a physicians assistant? How do nurse practitioner's get treated by their patients? With skepticism about their cred, or fairly well would you say? I'm guessing it's fairly well.

Answer: It depends on your State's laws but, in general, NPs have nearly as much autonomy as a family physician. So far, I've only come across them in a NICU (Neonatal ICU) setting and they seem to have a LOT of respect from the parents they work with. In the U.S. nurses, of all varieties, consistently rate as the most highly trusted professional, always higher than MDs. If I was younger, I'd probably go on for my NP, it's about the ideal healthcare role. All the hands-on, patient-focused work of a bedside nurse and the autonomy to chart a course of care without having to find an MD to sign off on your every action. Of course, to be honest, most MDs will sign off on almost anything an RN suggests but the RN still has to touch base first. MDs still make more money but it's really not about the money. Another great thing about NPs is that they, unlike too many MDs (NOT all, by any means), understand that they have a license to help sick people instead of thinking that they have been blessed by the Almighty when they pass their boards.

Question: Are there any nurse practitioners currently working in a chronic pain management unit/setting? I am looking for any SOP's (standard operating proceedures), clinical pathways, terms of reference, best practice guidelines or job descriptions for a nurse practitioner in a chronic pain management setting. We have recently established a new NP position at the PMU (chronic pain management unit) within our hospital and would like further guidance as to the role/job description etc. Appreciate input.

Answer: Hi, I found your question very interesting. I too am looking for SOP's for np's r/t chronic pain management. I work in a rural family practice and work with many clients with chronic pain, no insurance and not much within 30 miles to refer to. today alone I saw 3 chronic painers and spoke w/ 2 more via phone. Have you found any info? I am even interested in training for NP's Thanks

Question: How much do Nurse Practitioners make in Houston, TX? How much do Nurse Practitioners make in Houston, TX? I have over 5 years of experience as an RN (working in peds at a childrens hospital currently), and am about to graduate with my masters degree in nursing. Assuming I pass my NP license exams, how much should I be expecting (I have done some preliminary research on the salary, but the range is too broad). If there are any NP's or people out on the Internet who can help me, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Julie

Answer: Try salary.com or check with the local hospitals. Congrats on your masters!

Question: What kind of things do Nurse Practitioners do? I want to be a Nurse Practitioner, a lot because it seems like being a doctor for simpler things, but is it? I would want to be a doctor, but I don't think I'd be able to get through so much school and being so hard to do different things, and a nurse practitioner can prescribe medicine, and do different things like that.... what would a nurse practitioner do on most days? and does anyone know many details about acute care np or family np?

Answer: It is different from being a doctor, but does have its similarities. First of all in the next few years if you want to be a np you have to have your phd. It also depends on what state you practice in that you can prescribe medicine. For example in the state of Texas all medicines prescribe by np must be co-signed by a doctor, but other states do not require a co-signiture. What a np does day to day depends on what they specialize in. Some work in just doctor's offices and see patients. Others after years of exprience leave practice and become professors at nursing schools. This website should give you more info http://www.aanp.org/AANPCMS2