• Nurse practitioner jobs are in high demand.nurse chris image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
  
  Nurse practitioner jobs are expected to grow steadily, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As career opportunities grow, so does the need to understand the characteristics of a nurse practitioner's duties, education requirements, job responsibilities and personality characteristics. Whether you are in the job market as a nurse practitioner or you're a student considering a nursing practice career, arming yourself with relevant vocational information will help you reach your goals.
  
  

Education

• Nurse practitioners typically hold a bachelor's degree and are licensed clinical or practical nurses. Nurse practitioners often seek master's degrees in nursing practice before going on to attain a doctorate in nursing practice. Some employers require a doctoral degree in nursing practice, while others only require a master's for clinical work. Nurse practitioners must be licensed through an American Nursing Association certified licensing agent, such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses. Specializations are often sought, such as mental health, women's health nursing practice or gerontology nursing practice. These certifications typically require extra practicum experience. In total, the education time for nurse practitioners is approximately 6-8 years.
  
  

Job Description and Environment

• Nurse practitioners perform a variety of duties, which will vary depending upon the environment in which they work. However, almost all nurse practitioners will collaborate with physicians and determine diagnosis and treatment plans for patients, assist in managing medications and treatment with patients, order tests and other diagnostic measures as necessary, and evaluate conditions and prescribe some medications based on diagnosis. Nurse practitioners may treat minor injuries in a clinical office environment.
  
  Nurse practitioners work in a variety of environments, including private practices, clinics, hospitals, hospice centers, nursing homes, mental health facilities, community health centers, elementary or high school clinics and university or college campuses.
  
  

Personality and Traits

• Nurse practitioners must have the ability to learn quickly and the desire to pursue extended education as needed by the profession. Empathy and the ability to reason quickly in crisis are also necessary personality traits. Nurse practitioners must be able to manage staff, as they typically serve as head of nursing staff in many environments; effective communication skills are imperative. Due to the occasionally urgent nature of cases, the ability to stay calm under pressure is a personality asset that will enhance a nurse practitioner's career.
  
  

Salary

• Nurse practitioners make between $75,000-$85,000 annually, depending on the level of education. Those with doctorate degrees can earn closer to $90,000, depending on geographic region and work environment. Nurse practitioners who work for state or other governmental agencies may make slightly less than average, depending on budget concerns. Nurse practitioners who work in private clinical settings tend to make more annually than those in hospital or clinical settings.