What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are trained and licensed healthcare professionals who perform a wide range of medical services under the supervision of a physician. The primary responsibility of these nursing professionals is to provide primary and specialty care to patients of all ages. This includes physical exams, diagnosing and treating acute or chronic illnesses, and prescribing medication. Suturing, casting, and biopsies are just a few of the medical procedures they may take part in.
It is essential that NPs possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as they will need to work closely with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals. It is also imperative that a nurse practitioner has the ability to think critically, make decisions quickly, and work successfully under pressure. They should also be able to identify and manage complex medical conditions, as well as be able to solve problems effectively.
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National Average Salary
Nurse practitioner salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Nurse Practitioner is:
$114,200
Nurse Practitioner Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a nurse practitioner. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
We are looking for an experienced nurse practitioner to join the team at [Your Company Name]. The nurse practitioner will be full-time and work at our local clinic. The ideal candidate will have previous experience in providing primary care to their patients, including administering initial examinations and recurring examinations. The candidate will be responsible for setting up machinery and relevant healthcare equipment. If chosen, you will also be responsible for recording medical data and results into the required systems, as well as presenting this information in a respectful and conversational manner to families and patients. If this sounds like you, please apply! Ideally, you will have previous experience in the medical field and good interpersonal skills. Having a nurse practitioner (NP) certification is an absolute must for this position.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Talk with patients and record their medical history
- Examine and diagnose patients
- Order medical tests
- Prescribe medication
- Develop treatment plans for patients
- Monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed
- Counsel patients and their families
- Consult with doctors and other medical professionals
- Conduct research
Education and experience
Nurse practitioners must have a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in nursing or science and a master’s degree from an accredited program. Students must earn a registered nurse (RN) license before entering an advanced practice program. Many APRN candidates take a national certification exam, which is part of the licensing process. Nurse practitioners also should get certified in CPR, basic life support, and advanced cardiac life support.
Required skills and qualifications
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills for dealing with patients, doctors, and staff
- Discretion and the ability to handle confidential information
- Leadership skills for managing other nurses
- Ability to multitask and prioritize workload
- Compassion and a calm, caring demeanor
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Keen attention to detail
Preferred qualifications
- LNP Certification
- 2+ years of experience as a nurse practitioner in a clinic
- Strong interpersonal skills
Example 2
Job overview
The Licensed Medical Professional (LMP) provides consultation support services on the medical, epidemiologic, and prevention aspects of infectious diseases.
Responsibilities and duties
- Provide consultation support services by conducting port of entry screening procedures (temp check and other evaluations) that mitigate public health risk from travelers entering the United States. This service will include assessing travelers’ disease exposure risk by using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – developed guidance for establishing risk. They will perform these evaluations in an area (quarantine isolation room) located in the Federal Inspection Service (FIS) area
- The Medical professional will consult with CDC senior physicians in (City) during assessment
- Passengers suspected of being infected with an infectious disease (e.g., COVID-19) may be transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and diagnosis
- The medical contractor may be responsible for following up with the hospital for a final diagnosis. They may also be responsible for generating electronic and written records related to the public health risk assessment during the entry screening process
- The medical contractor may board aircrafts with Customs and Border Protection Officers (the customs officer being there to ensure compliance from passengers and crew) to conduct passenger assessment
- REQUIREMENTS:
- Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Health Education, Health Communications, Infectious Disease, Nursing, or Community Health
- Minimum 1 years of experience
- Experience in infection prevention
- NCCPA or NP license (preferred in the state of Airport location)
- Licensed medical professionals shall have a current and active medical license to practice in a state or territory of the United States. It is preferable that the license be for the state where the airport is located. Licensed medical professionals must also be able to work while wearing personal protective equipment such as an N-95 respirator. Further, it is expected that licensed medical professionals (nurses or PA/NP) shall be able to respond/report on-site within 45 minutes of the initial request for task orders that require after hours/emergency support
- Record of no restricted medical license in ANY state
- Ability to work independently
- Proficient in operation of office equipment such as computers, phones, etc.
- Successful passing of background check to obtain proper security badging
- Ability to pass respirator fit test
- Willingness to interact with individuals who may be suspected of being infected with an infectious disease
- Ability to work onsite (not a telework position)
Physical requirements
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Ability to walk long distances at times between terminals
- Ability to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs (occasionally heavier)
Preferred
- Previous experience working with the CDC or Federal Government in a Public Health environment
Example 3
Job summary
The Nurse Practitioner will provide healthcare services under the direction of a physician. The Nurse Practitioner will plan, direct, and evaluate resident/patient care in an in-patient Post Acute Long Term Care setting; examine and treat chronic and acute episodic illnesses, minor injuries, accidents, and other injuries/illnesses; perform selected laboratory testing; use of clinically appropriate referrals to physicians, write prescriptions, diagnose and treat medical conditions within the scope of license expertise, protocols, and available equipment. The Nurse Practitioner will also work with the medical director in the care and treatment of residents/patients.
Job duties/responsibilities
- Meets with new resident/patient to perform initial stabilizing visit/exam and medically manages patients with the attending physician
- Orders when medically necessary, laboratory testing, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic and acute episodic illnesses and minor injuries. Writes prescriptions within the scope of license, expertise, protocols, and available equipment. Schedules follow-up visits for self and the attending physician as needed
- Performs clinical examinations
- Acts as a resource person for decisions, planning, and policies affecting the health of resident/patient
- Maintains inpatient records. Compiles reports as needed for evaluations, etc.
- Collaborates with staff to identify resident/patient needs and to help develop plan to meet these needs
- Follows resident/patient in the skilled nursing facility as needed for continuity of care
- Provides general health education regarding matters such as proper diet, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance
- Assists physician with emergency treatments and more complex procedures
- Serves as a member of committees dealing with health care (Antibiotic Stewardship, etc.)
Required skills and abilities
- Demonstrated competency dealing with adults, and geriatric patients
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritize tasks
- Ability to work with the interdisciplinary team
Education and experience
- Successful completion of an approved nurse practitioner program with appropriate certification
- Current approval by the appropriate Board of Licensing
- Must be currently licensed (preferred), or eligible to obtain an unrestricted license as a nurse practitioner in the state
Physical requirements
- Able to lift 35 pounds for routine performance of essential functions
- May be exposed to adverse indoor and outdoor environmental conditions, bloodborne pathogens, physical hazards (e.g., needle pricks, etc.), and chemical hazards
- Be able to perform prolong sitting, standing, and walking greater than 15 minutes at a time
Example 4
This is a PRN position and would require a minimum of 4 days per month to also include weekend availability and are typically 12 hr shifts.
Position highlights
- Provide patients with an array of primary care services
- Opportunity to work in an integrated, multi-specialty setting
Responsibilities
- Provide a high level of patient care while accomplishing physician-directed medical goals. In collaboration with supervising physician, provide evidence-based medical care by recommending and prescribing medications, and other treatments
- Diagnose, plan, and implement interventions, and evaluate patient response to therapy under direction of supervising physician
- Represent the company in healthcare quality and patient engagement by delivering customer service through all patient interactions
- Assist administration and clinical staff with best practices and procedures
Qualifications
- Master’s degree OR Doctoral degree in Nursing and one (1) or more years of Nurse Practitioner (NP) experience
- Evidence of training in a Family Practice setting
- Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license
- Valid advanced state practice license (APRN/ANP/CNP/PNP) as required by state
Minimum qualifications
- Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications
- Master’s degree OR doctoral degree in Nursing and 1 year’s Nurse Practitioner (NP) experience in family practice
- Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license and/or valid advanced state practice license (APRN/ANP/CNP/ PNP) as required by state
Preferred qualifications
- Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications
- Valid accreditation from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) OR adult nurse practitioner (ANP) and pediatric nurse practitioner (PPCNP-BC), Valid advanced state practice license, or Certified Nurse Practitioner
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- Nurse Practitioner (NP). The nurse practitioner certification is a must for anyone who wishes to work in this field. This certification is extremely relevant to the position and is required to become a nurse practitioner. This certification is offered by a multitude of boards, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and the National Certification Corporation among a multitude of others. Because this certification is widely recognized, it is the foremost certification for this position.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A bachelor of science in nursing is an extremely good degree for any nurse practitioner. This degree will cover all the basics needed in order to successfully go into this field, and because of this is very relevant to the position. Earning this degree will take roughly four years to complete, and will set a nurse practitioner well on their way to landing a good position. There are also some fast-track options for specified locations and levels of education.
Sample Interview Questions
- To ensure your patients understand their diagnoses, treatments, and medications, how do you provide education and counseling?
- How do you assess a situation and determine the right course of action regarding a patient’s care when making a critical decision?
- In your practice, how do you approach communication and teamwork with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals?
- What strategies do you use to address potential biases and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes among patients from diverse backgrounds?
- How do you develop and manage patient treatment plans?
- When it comes to your specialty area, what are the best practices for staying up-to-date on the latest research, guidelines, and treatments? How do you incorporate this knowledge into your practice?
- What strategies do you use to ensure effective communication and collaboration with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals?
- When you faced a challenging or complex medical case, how did you research and develop a treatment plan?
- When providing medical services, what steps do you take to ensure that you follow all applicable laws, regulations, and standards of care?
- How do you manage patient information and document medical services using electronic medical records (EMRs)?
