What does a Nurse Practitioner do?
A Nurse Practitioner provides autonomous medical care to patients who urgently need it. They mitigate treatment delays caused by a shortage of physicians and other healthcare professionals. In many ways, they provide cost savings in the healthcare system and ultimately save more lives in the process.
Nurse Practitioners ease the workload of primary care physicians. They work in acute care settings dealing with minor illnesses and in emergency situations such as accident wards. They are able to work more closely with patients and educate them on managing their health more effectively.
Nurse Practitioner skills and qualifications
A successful Nurse Practitioner candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Excellent knowledge of the pillars of nursing
- Knowledge of counselling and psychology
- Strong customer service skills
- Empathy and sensitivity skills
- Ability to remain calm in highly stressful situations
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Attention to detail and thoroughness
Nurse Practitioner experience requirements
A Nurse Practitioner must have over six years of nursing experience. For Senior Nurse Practitioner or Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles, candidates must have over five years of experience working as a Nurse Practitioner. Previous experience managing their own caseloads and making autonomous decisions about patient care are necessary. Nurse Practitioners must also have several years of experience managing undifferentiated diagnoses and complex clinical presentations.
Nurse Practitioner education and training requirements
A Nurse Practitioner must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an approved apprenticeship. A master’s degree in advanced clinical practice or nursing practice is also necessary, as this will offer training in advanced health assessment, diagnosis and pharmacology. Nurse Practitioners also need to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom and the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Other training requirements include a non-prescribing medical qualification such as the Level 6 and Level 7 Non-medical Prescribing for Health Care Professionals courses offered by institutions in the United Kingdom.
Nurse Practitioner salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, a Nurse Practitioner earns an average salary of £35,458 per year. This salary varies depending on factors, including their level of experience, level of education, training, geographical location and the specific company they work for.
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