How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Mississippi
Mississippi, as a largely rural state, needs more primary care providers to serve its remote regions. Ready to take on the challenge? This is your chance to learn more about nurse practitioner programs in Mississippi. Scroll down to check out learning outcomes, graduation requirements and licensing laws. If you already know a nurse practitioner degree is the right move for you, start your search now. Our featured listings below and search box above make it quick and easy.
As primary care needs grow all over the country, many nurses are realizing that this is a great time to become a nurse practitioner. Read on to learn more about how to become and how to practice as a nurse practitioner in Mississippi.
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in Mississippi?
If you currently work as a registered nurse and you’re interested in pursuing nurse practitioner education, you may choose to earn a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree. Expectations vary significantly between these programs.
Nurse Practitioner Schooling Requirements for a Master’s Degree
- Credit hours required: 30 to 40 credit hours
- Average cost: $600 per credit
- Clinical hours required: At least 500 clinical hours
- Timeframe: Two years
Nurse Practitioner Schooling Requirements for a Doctoral Degree
- Credit hours required: 80 credits
- Clinical hours required: At least 1,000 clinical hours
- Timeframe: Five years
Nurse Practitioner Program Options in Mississippi
Whether you decide on a Master’s degree or doctoral degree, you may be looking at similar course options and curricular requirements when you start your education. You must decide which population you want to work with as a nurse practitioner, in addition to deciding whether you want to focus on acute clinical care or primary clinical care.
Some of the options available at Mississippi schools include geriatric care, psychiatric and mental healthcare, and family care. FNP programs focus on the treatment of patients of all ages, while other options focus on a specific age group or medical need.
Some of the courses that may be required of family nurse practitioner students can be found below.
Commonly Required Courses in FNP Programs
- Advanced Theoretical Issues in Nursing and Ethics
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Family Nurse Practice
- Advanced Healthcare Policy and Politics
- Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care
- Role Synthesis for Nurse Practitioners
After you get the theory training you need, you need to tackle the clinical requirements of your program. You may meet these requirements at nursing homes, community clinics, hospitals, or private clinics.
How Can I Pay for Nurse Practitioner School in Mississippi?
- Mississippi Nurses Foundation: This group offers a wide variety of scholarships to nursing students at different levels of education, including several grants that are unique to MSN students.
- BestNursingDegree.com Back to School Scholarship: Our scholarship program runs year-round, awarding $2,500 scholarships four times per year.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: This federally funded program supports nursing students in school with the expectation that they work in a Health Professional Shortage Area for two years after graduation.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: If you’re willing to work in an NHSC-approved location after becoming a nurse practitioner, this program may help you pay off your student loans. They pay off up to $50,000 of loans in exchange for a two-year commitment.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for NPs in Mississippi
In Mississippi, licensure goes through the Mississippi Board of Nursing. They require a current registered nursing license, proof of a graduate or doctoral degree, and national certification. Currently, Mississippi only offers reduced practice rights to nurse practitioners (AANP, 2016). However, this is a high priority for nurse advocates, so it may change in the future.
Nurse Practitioner Careers in Mississippi
Healthcare needs are growing rapidly in Mississippi, so you may enjoy a strong job outlook as a nurse practitioner. Between 2014 and 2024, O*Net expects job openings for nurse practitioners to increase 28% (2016). The average salary for a nurse practitioner in this state is $98,880 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
Your income potential depends a lot on your choice of work setting. If you work in primary care, you may keep regular office hours and enjoy free evenings and weekends. Those who go into acute care may find themselves working holidays, nights, and weekends, a responsibility that often comes with holiday and overtime pay.
You may be able to open your own clinic, but keep in mind that this path currently involves hiring a doctor to supervise your practice.
Some of the Top NP Programs in Mississippi
- Alcorn State University. Located in Natchez, the School of Nursing at Alcorn State University offers Master’s level nurse practitioner programs such as: Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Post-master’s certificate programs are also available for practicing nurse practitioners.
- Delta State University. Delta State offers a Master’s-level online Family Nurse Practitioner program. It also offers Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs through the Mississippi Consortium for Specialized Advanced Practice Nursing.
- University of Mississippi Medical Center. Want a first-rate nursing education? The University of Mississippi Medical Center is located on the state’s only academic health science campus, and includes the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and children’s hospital. Choose from Master’s-level NP programs including: Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
