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Find out how working locum tenens with Barton Associates can help NPs earn more, travel more, and experience more!

Nurse Practitioner Resource Hub

Helpful Tools, Resources, and Advice for NPs

Whether you’re a looking to pursue a permanent career as a nurse practitioner or are interested in locum tenens as a full-time career, you probably have some questions. And we expect you to. For that reason, we assembled some of the most useful articles, infographics, and videos in one easy-to-navigate location to help answer any questions you may have. Educational resources, navigating the job-search process, useful career tips — it’s all here.

Click one of the links below to jump right to the section you’re looking for. Can’t find the information you need? Fill out the form to the right and a Barton Associates representative will be in touch with you shortly.

Nurse Practitioner Education Resources

Top US Nurse Practitioner Programs, Ranked – (U.S. News and World Report)

What are the best nurse practitioner programs in the US? U.S. News and World Report breaks down the top nursing programs for family nurse practitioner training at the master’s and/or doctor of nursing practice level based on cost of tuition, enrollment, peer assessment scores, and acceptance rate.


Grants and Scholarship Programs for Nurse Practitioners – (AANP)

Looking to fund your nurse practitioner education through grants or scholarships? The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) offers exclusive grants and scholarships to prospective NPs as well as NPS looking to advance their career through additional education or certification.


What Do Nurse Practitioner Programs Look for In Applicants? – (Barton Associates) 

Nurse Practitioner programs are more competitive than ever. Learn the top NP program requirements so that you can get into the program of your choice.


What are the Best Nurse Practitioner Programs?

The top 5 programs for nurse practitioners, according to the 2023 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings, are:

  1. Duke University
  2. Vanderbilt University
  3. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
  4. Yale University
  5. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

These rankings are based on 15 distinct factors, including peer and professional assessment scores, program size, and teacher-to-student ratio. More than 648 schools were considered for evaluation. Note that these rankings refer specifically to the Masters programs for family practice nurse practitioners, the most commonly attended program type for NPs. The top 5 ranked DnP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs are Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Duke, Rush, and the University of Washington.


How to Get into Nurse Practitioner Schools: What Do NP Programs Look For?

Nurse practitioner programs look for two general groups of criteria: objective minimum qualifications, and the more subjective qualities that represent a promising program candidate.

Minimum NP Program Qualifying Criteria includes:

  • Work experience and licensure as a registered nurse (RN)
  • minimum GPA
  • professional references
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores

Qualities that program selection committees look for includes:

  • An understanding of the nurse practitioner role and scope of practice
  • Leadership experience and a comfortability with autonomy and independence at a professional level
  • A commitment to completing your degree, demonstrating the planning and thought necessary to complete what is often a rigorous and trying program

For a more in-depth exploration of How to Get Into NP Schools, check out our accompanying article.

Nurse Practitioner Jobs Resources

Nurse Practitioner Jobs Overview – (Barton Associates)

Our dedicated resource for nurse practitioner jobs includes all the information you need on which NP jobs are in demand, top NP specialties, Nurse practitioner salaries, locum NP jobs, and why nurse practitioners choose locum work. Also, you can explore open nurse practitioner jobs through our NP job board.


Top Nurse Practitioner Specialties – (Barton Associates)

There are over 60 NP specialties. Learn about the most in-demand NP specialties, as well as which types of nurse practitioners earn the highest incomes.


Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide- (Barton Associates) 

How much do nurse practitioners make? Which NP specialties make the most? Do Locum NPs earn more than their perm counterparts? Get your NP salary questions answered.


How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?

Nurse practitioners make an average of $121,610 per year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor.

Medscape’s survey of 1,500 nurse practitioners found a similar result: $118,000. This includes a base compensation of $111,000 and $7,000 in additional income.

The majority of nurse practitioners report feeling underpaid. Last year, 52% of NPs said they did not feel fairly compensated, which was the highest dissatisfaction rate recorded among all advanced practice registered nurses (ARPNs). In contrast, only one-third of CRNAs said they didn’t feel fairly compensated. (CRNA’s reported an average salary of $225,000.)

Hourly nurse practitioners (including locum NPs) reported average annual earnings of $143,000 – that’s a 22% increase over the salary for perm NPs.

For an in-depth breakdown of NP salary by specialty, explore our article, How Much Do Nurse Practitioner Make?


What NP Specialties Make the Most Money?

Some NP specialties make more money on average than others—here are the top three highest paying NP specialties by median total cash compensation, according to Becker’s Hospital Review:

1. Pediatrics — Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

NPs who specialize in neonatal medicine are few in number when compared to other specialties, but they make the most money on average. In fact, according to the research, neonatal-perinatal medicine NPs have a median total cash compensation of $144,461. Aside from the high pay, NPs choose this specialty because it gives them the opportunity to provide quality care for premature babies or seriously ill newborns.

2. Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine NPs work in hospital emergency units and urgent cares, helping patients with critical injuries get the treatment they need. This is not one of the most popular specializations for NPs, but similar to neonatal-perinatal medicine, it is one of the most lucrative. According to the research, emergency medicine NPs make a median total cash compensation of $137,280.

3. Hospitalist — Internal Medicine

Internal medicine NP hospitalists work alongside physicians and other hospital staff to care for patients. According to the research, these NPs have a median total cash compensation of $128,483.

 

For more information on the most in-demand NP specialties as well as income data on each, check out our accompanying article.

 

Nurse Practitioner Career Resources

How Networking Can Improve Your Career in Healthcare - Barton Associates

In healthcare, networking can help you better understand your industry, come up with new ideas, and advance your career.

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Can a Nurse Practitioner Do That? [Infographic] - Barton Associates

Can nurse practitioners sign death certificates, order tests, and diagnose illness? Our infographic includes a handy overview of NP responsibilities.

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Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Laws - Barton Associates

Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Laws by State including practice independence, prescriptive authority, and NP autonomy.

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Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide - Barton Associates

How much do nurse practitioners make? Explore NP salaries by specialty.

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Life As a Nurse Practitioner

What is Locum Tenens? - Barton Associates

Learn the meaning of locum tenens, including advantages for providers, frequently asked questions, and a guide to getting started.

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