How to become a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioners get their RNs and maintain their nursing licensure. They must also earn at least a master’s degree in nursing. After a while, they may need a higher degree. In most countries, the nursing associations advise nurses to get a doctoral degree in nursing.
Here are the steps involved in becoming a nurse practitioner.
Education
If you want to become a nurse practitioner, the first thing to do is get a degree that makes you qualified to apply for RN licensure. You can pick from a diploma, associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Experts advise people that want to become nurse practitioners to go for BSN. It’ll allow you to get more credits and can help you create the educational foundation you need to take on this role. You’ll also need to get an advanced degree. You can pick from a master of nursing science (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. You should get a specialty in your MSN or DNP program and gain advanced knowledge. You might see bridge programs that allow you to go directly from an ADN to an MSN or BSN to DPN. These programs help you to earn multiple degrees at once, saving you both time and money. The time spent on education depends on the path you take. Some common time frames are:
-
- Diploma RN programs: 2 years
- ADN programs: 2 years
- BSN programs: 4 years
- MSN programs: 2 to 3 years
- DNP programs: 3 to 5 years
- ADN to MSN bridge programs: 3 years
- BSN to DNP bridge programs: 3 to 5 years