Mississippi Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
The southern state of Mississippi has a rapidly growing need for skilled family nurse practitioners, due to their ability to provide quality care to people of all ages. This presents a great opportunity for you if you are currently working as a registered nurse in Mississippi. As an RN, you may be qualified to start a family nurse practitioner program, and if you already have your BSN, it should be easy to find programs of study.
Family nurse practitioners offer primary care to people with varying health needs. During a typical day of work, you might see patients, diagnose illnesses, and prescribe medications. If there are registered nurses and nursing assistants that work beneath you, you may also supervise them and direct their work days.
In Mississippi, nurse practitioners are required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician before they can work, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The number of rural communities in Mississippi means that many people are left without primary care providers. Family nurse practitioners can provide affordable, evidence-based health care to these communities.
Becoming a family nurse practitioner can also increase your earning potential as a nurse. According to O*Net, the median salary for a nurse practitioner in Mississippi is $90,700. You may be able to make up to $132,700 per year as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Mississippi, based upon your experience and practice setting. (O*Net, 2012).
To begin your quest you will need to know more about programs offered in Mississippi. Please submit requests for information to the schools below to learn more.
Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum in Mississippi
There are many family nurse practitioner programs to choose from in Mississippi. If you are currently working as a nurse, you may want to find a program that fits your work schedule. Of course, there are programs that meet during traditional daytime hours. However, there are also programs that have classes online or in the evening.
During your family nurse practitioner program you may be expected to complete many different classes that tackle every aspect of being a nurse practitioner. There are some classes that are offered at almost every school. Some of these classes include Trends in Professional Nursing, Patient Care Technology, Patient Safety, Emergency Care, and Advanced Pharmacology. Some schools even give you the chance to complete an individual study, which allows you to focus in on one area of nursing that you find interesting.
At the same time that you are completing your courses, you have to complete a certain number of clinical hours. Clinical hours are usually spread out evenly through the duration of the program. In Mississippi, school requirements vary between 550 and 700 clinical hours.
Most people complete a family nurse practitioner program in three to four years. The amount of time it takes you will depend on how many classes you take, whether or not you take summer classes, and other factors. Because of the many rural communities in Mississippi, there’s a scholarship opportunity for students that are willing to serve in rural areas. The Rural Advanced Nursing Education Expansion Scholarship is available to students in advanced nursing programs in the state.
Family Nurse Practitioner Careers in Mississippi
Once you have graduated from an accredited nurse practitioner program, you must test and apply for your license from the Mississippi State Board of Nursing. Once you have your license, you will need to renew it every two years. In order to renew your license, you must complete 40 continuing education hours every two-year period.
Short of owning your own clinic and being its primary health care provider, you may be able to work in most health care settings in Mississippi. Nurse practitioners choose to work in hospitals, traditional clinics, and a quick care settings. Some of the largest nurse practitioner employers in Mississippi include Manta Resources, Loyal Source, Healthstat, Deaconess HomeCare, and Consulate Healthcare.
You may already be part of the Mississippi Nurses Association, but if not, you should consider joining. You can receive legislative updates, job listings, and opportunities for continuing education.
