Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Career Overview
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Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Career in Brief
Nurse practitioners are vital to primary care in the United States. They offer a blend of nursing and medical services to patients of all ages, such as diagnosing chronic and acute conditions, chronic disease management, health promotion, and wellness services. Depending on the laws governing their state, NPs may practice on their own or under physician supervision.
Key Responsibilities
- Conducting patients’ physical exams
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Creating patient care plans
- Prescribing both pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical treatments
- Providing education and counseling to patients
- Consulting with other healthcare providers
Career Traits
- Leadership skills
- Decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Compassionate
Where Do Primary Care Nurses Work?
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), more than 325,000 NPs are licensed in the U.S. with the majority (89%) working in primary care. This includes primary care offices, community health centers, and home health centers.
Primary Care Offices
Primary care nurses may work in independent practice, where allowed, and provide direct care to patients. They might also perform 24/7 telephone triage to offer care advice and management, medication guidance, and recommendations for further treatment.
Community Care Centers
Typically found in rural or underserved communities, community care centers employ primary care NPs to provide preventive and primary health services to patients (many without health insurance). Primary care nurses also give communities access to health counseling and promotion and collaborate with other providers to support patient health.
Home Health Centers
Primary care nurses direct care planning and management for chronic conditions, offer care to patients in their homes, and partner with paramedic and emergency medical services to provide in-home care, with the goal of reducing hospitalizations.
Primary Care Nursing vs. Acute Care Nursing
Primary Care Nursing
Provides ongoing care with a patient, establishing a long-term relationship- Focuses on health education, promotion, screening, and diagnosing common conditions
- Develops treatment plans for patients using evidence-based best practices
- Primarily works in clinics, including family practice, pediatric, internal medicine, and community health centers
- Works during normal business hours
- Coordinates with acute care providers when a patient’s chronic illness worsens or requires hospitalization
Acute Care Nursing
- Provides short-term care for patients who need immediate care due to critical illness or injury
- Focuses on treating patients who have urgent needs or are physiologically unstable
- Provides care in emergency or critical situations using evidence-based best practices
- Primarily works in hospital settings, including the emergency department, intensive care units, medical-surgical units, and subspeciality units
- Works varied hours, including overnight and weekend shifts
- Coordinates with primary care providers for postacute treatment
How to Become a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- 1
Complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program
If you do not have any previous nursing experience, a BSN program takes about 3-4 years to complete. However, experienced registered nurses (RNs) do not need to earn a BSN before pursuing a master’s degree if they enroll in an RN-to-MSN degree program.
- 2
Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure
An RN license is required to practice nursing, and all prospective RNs must pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN). Take the nurse licensing test after earning your associate degree or BSN and seeking approval from your state’s nursing board.
- 3
Complete a graduate degree in nursing
You can earn either a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) to practice as an NP. If you have an RN license with an associate degree, you can complete an RN-to-MSN program to meet the educational requirements.
- 4
Pass the National NP Certification Board Exam and receive NP licensure
Administered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board, the NP certification exam is 150 questions related to clinical competency and knowledge across the life span.
Patient Care Focuses for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
The AANP reports that 89% of NPs have a primary care focus. Some of the more common primary care focuses are outlined below.
Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC)
ANPs work primarily with adults ranging from late adolescence to seniors. This broad age range means that most ANPs are generalists, although some work with specific age groups.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)
FNPs work with patients throughout their entire lifespan, from infants through seniors. Also considered generalists, they typically work in primary care settings, urgent care, or internal medicine. AANP reports that 67% of NPs are FNPs.
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP-BC)
GNPs work exclusively with seniors, providing primary care services related to aging. The American Nurses Credentialing Center no longer offers the GNP certification (although existing credentials can be renewed). NPs wishing to work with this population can earn the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC) credential instead.
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP-BC)
Pediatric primary care nurse practitioners work with children from birth through adolescence. They focus on the physical and psychological needs of children, including disease prevention and management, wellness, and health promotion.
Womens Healthcare Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC)
WHNPs provide comprehensive womens wellness, including reproductive, pre and postnatal, and gynecological care to women of all ages.
How Much Do Primary Care Nurse Practitioners Make?
According to the BLS, the median base salary for a full-time nurse practitioner is $129,210. However, NPs awho work in hospitals can increase their annual earnings to $137,790.
Nurse practitioners are in high demand. As the U.S. population ages and the need for health services increases, NPs are increasingly being called on to provide preventive and primary care services. The increasing number of community health centers nationwide also contributes to that demand.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 40% job growth for NPs between 2024 and 2034. Demand for healthcare services, an increasing acceptance of NPs for primary care services, and changing state laws that increase NPs’ scope of practice are all expected to contribute to rapid growth in jobs.
Resources for Primary Care Nurse
Lippincott Nursing Center
NursingCenter provides access to a range of resources for all nurses, including peer-reviewed journals, books, articles, and podcasts. It also offers an array of clinical and continuing education resources. Membership is free to all nurses and includes access to NursingJobsPlus, a comprehensive job board.American Association of Nurse Practitioners
The largest professional organization for NPs, AANP has more than 118,000 individual and organizational members. They provide advocacy, continuing education opportunities, student resources, a job board, and research opportunities. Membership is open to NPs at all career levels.National Black Nurse Practitioner Association
NBNPA is a nonprofit organization of advanced practice nurses, most of whom live and work in the Houston, Texas area. They are committed to improving health and access to healthcare in underserved communities and the advancement of advanced practice nurses. Membership includes access to a career center, scholarships, education and networking events, and volunteer opportunities.National Indian Nurse Practitioners Association of America
NINPAA is committed to professional excellence among Indian American nurse practitioners in all specialties. The organization provides education and professional development opportunities to members at both the state and national levels to support high-quality primary care. Members have access to a job board, an annual conference, and a newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Primary Care Nurses
NPs need an RN license, a graduate degree in nursing, and an advanced practice license, earned by passing a national certification exam. The path to earning your master’s depends on whether you already have a BSN. If you do, you can enter an MSN program directly. Otherwise, an RN-to-MSN program will prepare you for advanced practice. Some organizations have supported making the DNP the required degree for all entry-level NPs; however, currently, there is no mandate.
