Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have greater autonomy, in many states able to practice independently and prescribe medications. Similar in nature to physician assistants, nurse practitioners take a patient load themselves, enabling primary care physicians to provide care to more complex cases.

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Specializations
Adult health
Acute care
Geriatrics
Family health
Pediatrics
School health
Women's health

Work Activities/Environment
Nurse practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, community centers, public health departments, and a number of other health organizations. They follow a patient's progress — taking the medical history, conducting physical exams, making diagnoses, and implementing treatment plans. NPs also have the ability to order and interpret lab tests and x-rays.

Academic/Special Requirements
High school students should study health, mathematics, biology, chemistry, social sciences and related courses. Nursing education includes classes in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, psychology and related courses. Health and wellness subjects are emphasized, such as nutrition and basic care.

Nurse practitioners begin their education as registered nurses with a bachelor's degree. The master's level NP program takes approximately 18 months to 2 years to complete, and involves classroom and clinical work. Nurse practitioners are nationally certified by four national certifying groups: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NCB/PNP), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

Educational Institutions
Concordia University Wisconsin
Marian University
Marquette University
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Viterbo College

Salary
Average $70,000

Professional Organizations
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
National Administrative Office
PO Box 12846
Austin, TX, 78711
512/442-4262
www.aanp.org

American Association of Colleges of Nursing
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC, 20036
202/463-6930
www.aacn.nche.edu

American College of Nurse Practitioners
1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 509
Arlington, VA, 22209
703-740-2529
www.acnpweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

American Nurses Association (ANA)
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MO, 20910
301/628-5000 or 800/274-4ANA (4262)
www.ana.org

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
20 Brace Road, Suite 200
Cherry Hill, NJ, 08034-2634
856/857-9700
www.napnap.org

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
900 19th Street, NW, Suite 200B
Washington, DC, 20006
202/289-8044
www.nonpf.com

Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing
Board of Nursing
1400 E. Washington Ave., Room 112
Madison, WI, 53703
608/267-7223
www.drl.state.wi.us/board_detail.asp?boardid=42&locid=0

Wisconsin League for Nursing
PO Box 136
Long Lake, WI, 54542-0136
888/755-3329
www.wisconsinwln.org/

Wisconsin Nurses Association
6117 Monona Drive
Madison, WI, 53716
608/221-0383 or 800/362-3959
www.wisconsinnurses.org/