7 December, 2023 
The demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) is growing in popularity in the United States—according to forecasts by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of these crucial healthcare providers is expected to increase 45% by 2032. Providers are taking advantage of this expanding opportunity, as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) recently released data showing that the number of licensed NPs grew by 8% to 385,000 in 2023. If you’re a registered nurse (RN) looking to become an NP, there’s a few key things you need to know about the process. Read on to learn more about transitioning from RN to NP, and the benefits of choosing to become a locum tenens NP with us.
Before we dive into the process of transitioning from RN to NP, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you’d want to become a nurse practitioner in the first place.
While working in healthcare isn’t all about the money, NPs tend to make more than RNs on average. According to the BLS, the median annual wage of NPs in 2022 was $121,610, while the median annual wage of RNs in 2022 was $81,220 the same year.
NPs are also considered advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which means they have a more robust depth of knowledge than that of a RN due to their extra education and clinical experience. In fact, an NP education is built on the foundation of a specific specialty, such as family practice or psychiatric/mental health, whereas RNs often study medicine more generally.
While it depends on where you practice, NPs also have increased responsibilities than RNs. In the U.S., 27 states and the District of Columbia grant NPs “full practice authority,” which generally means they can evaluate patients, diagnose, and prescribe medications and therapeutic measures without physician supervision.
To become an NP, you must first earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing from an accredited institution and become a licensed RN.
Once you’ve completed those steps, you are now eligible to apply to graduate-level nursing programs. You can either choose to pursue a Master of Science in nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), during which you will choose your patient focus (also known as a specialty).
After you’ve earned your degree, the next step is to take and pass a national NP board certification exam. There are a few exam options available according to the AANP, although each certifies for different patient focuses:
Pass the exam, and then apply for an NP license in your state. Congratulations, you’re now an NP!
NPs aren’t beholden to only taking permanent positions at hospitals or other medical facilities. In fact, you can become a locum tenens provider, which is a travel healthcare professional who takes assignments at understaffed facilities across the country.
As the fourth largest locum tenens recruiting and staffing agency in the United States, Barton Associates is here to help you find a locum tenens assignment that meets your professional goals and personal needs. When you connect with one of our recruiters, they will search all of the open listings across the country that fit your skills and qualifications.
As a locum tenens provider with us, you’ll gain access to the following benefits:
Want to partner with us? Check out our open NP jobs online, or reach out to us today to get started.
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