Nurse Practitioners

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.

Sample of reported job titles: ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist), 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

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks Save Table: XLSX CSV

ImportanceCategoryTask
98
 
Core
Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.
97
 
Core
Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
96
 
Core
Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.
96
 
Core
Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
95
 
Core
Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.
95
 
Core
Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.
94
 
Core
Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
94
 
Core
Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
93
 
Core
Recommend diagnostic or therapeutic interventions with attention to safety, cost, invasiveness, simplicity, acceptability, adherence, and efficacy.
93
 
Core
Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.
93
 
Core
Diagnose or treat acute health care problems, such as illnesses, infections, or injuries.
90
 
Core
Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances, such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.
90
 
Core
Order, perform, or interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as complete blood counts (CBCs), electrocardiograms (EKGs), and radiographs (x-rays).
90
 
Core
Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.
89
 
Core
Maintain current knowledge of state legal regulations for nurse practitioner practice, including reimbursement of services.
88
 
Core
Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
88
 
Core
Consult with, or refer patients to, appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
88
 
Core
Treat or refer patients for primary care conditions, such as headaches, hypertension, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and dermatological conditions.
88
 
Core
Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
86
 
Core
Schedule follow-up visits to monitor patients or evaluate health or illness care.
86
 
Core
Perform routine or annual physical examinations.
85
 
Core
Maintain departmental policies and procedures in areas such as safety and infection control.
81
 
Core
Advocate for accessible health care that minimizes environmental health risks.
80
 
Core
Perform primary care procedures such as suturing, splinting, administering immunizations, taking cultures, and debriding wounds.
73
 
Core
Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources.
71
 
Core
Keep abreast of regulatory processes and payer systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and private sources.
71
 
Core
Supervise or coordinate patient care or support staff activities.

back to top

Worker Requirements

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 65%
     
    responded: Master’s degree required
  • 26%
     
    responded: Doctoral degree required
  • 4%
     
    responded: Bachelor’s degree required

back to top

Worker Characteristics

Interests Save Table: XLSX CSV

Occupational InterestInterest
75
 
Investigative — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
73
 
Social — Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
55
 
Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

back to top

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2022)
$58.47 hourly, $121,610 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2022)
266,300 employees
Projected growth (2022-2032)
Much faster than average (9% or higher)
Projected job openings (2022-2032)
26,300
State trends
Top industries (2022)
Health Care and Social Assistance (90% employed in this sector)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 wage data external site and 2022-2032 employment projections external site. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2022-2032). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

back to top

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

back to top