Nebraska Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nestled comfortably in the Midwest, Nebraska is a great state for nurses that want to take the next step in their nursing career. Family nurse practitioners are in high demand because of their ability to administer care to patients of all ages. Family nurse practitioners are often expected to take more of a leadership role, which includes overseeing nurses and nursing assistants. However, the majority of a family nurse practitioner’s responsibility lies in seeing and caring for patients. Your tasks as a family nurse practitioner may include seeing patients for yearly physicals, diagnosing and treating minor illnesses, and overseeing care for chronic conditions.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, you are required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician in order to work as a nurse practitioner in Nebraska. This still enables you to work in hospitals, clinics, and urgent care settings. A collaborative agreement may include what duties a nurse practitioner can perform, what their restrictions are, and when they have to refer a patient to a physician.
Many Nebraska nurse practitioners enjoy the greater earning potential that comes with the position. According to O*Net, the median salary for nurse practitioners in Nebraska is $82,400. The listed range of salaries goes from $62,100 to $109,000 (O*Net, 2012).
To begin your search for a program, click on the linked schools below to request information and program materials. You can then compare different programs to determine which one may best fit your needs.
Family Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Nebraska
In general, nurse practitioner students can expect to spend two to four years earning their degree, depending upon whether you enroll in a Masters or Doctorate program. You must have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing in order to be accepted to a nurse practitioner program. The actual amount of time it takes you to complete your degree depends on whether you go to school part-time or full-time.
Courses included in a family nurse practitioner program include courses in advanced assessment, nursing research, and nursing leadership. Some of the classes you may have to take include Evidence Based Nursing Practice, Practical Ethics in Health Care, Primary Care for Adults and Diagnostic & Therapeutic Procedures.
In addition to completing traditional coursework, you have to complete a number of clinical hours in order to earn your degree. In general, Nebraska laws require you to between 600 and 700 clinical hours. Some schools, like Creighton University, delve deeper into clinical requirements. At Creighton University, 300 of your clinical hours go towards a residency. This gives you the opportunity to begin building professional connections within the community and start preparing for the post-graduation job search.
Financing your Family Nurse Practitioner Program in Nebraska
It is important to look for all the scholarships that you qualify for when you begin your nurse practitioner program. They can lower the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket or take out in loans. You can apply for the Nebraska Nurses Association Scholarship. Every year, they give out scholarships of $1000 to $5000.
Working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Nebraska
During your time in your nurse practitioner program, it is important to maintain your Nebraska nursing license. After graduating from an accredited program, you can apply for your advanced practice license from the Nebraska State Board of Nursing. After initial licensure, you have to renew your license every two years. To be eligible for renewal, you have to complete 20 continuing education hours during every renewal period.
There are many places that you can work as a nurse practitioner. The most common employers are hospitals, medical clinics, and urgent care centers. Large employers include AseraCare, Orchard Place, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Consulate Health Care.
There are many benefits to joining Nebraska Nurse Practitioners Association as a Nurse Practitioner. You can network with other nurse practitioners, learn about new legislature that affects nurses, and be the first to know about new job listings.
To learn more about becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner today, submit a request for information from the schools on this page.
