Washington Nurse Practitioner Programs

You may have chosen to get into the field of nursing for any variety of reasons. One of the main benefits of working in this field is the range of professional opportunities that are available to you. If you’re a registered nurse and you’re trying to find the best way to take the next step in your career, consider serving the people of Washington by becoming a nurse practitioner. You can contact Washington NP schools directly from our site to learn more.

Washington, like many parts of the country, has a fairly significant shortage of doctors. Many experts suggest that an increase of nurse practitioners can solve this shortage and save patients from long wait times.

When you become a nurse practitioner, you may have the flexibility to work in different settings. NBC Washington reports on mobile health clinics that travel around the Washington area, providing care to patients that may not otherwise have access to medical services.

As a nurse practitioner student, you may be in a position to enjoy many networking opportunities in Washington. ARNPs United of Washington State is an organization that keeps members involved in nursing legislation, awards scholarships to promising students, and sends monthly newsletters to members.

Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Washington

Nurse practitioners tend to take on prominent roles in primary care. Since you spend quite a bit of time working independently, you must have an extensive knowledge of the human body, various medical conditions, and bedside manner. You should plan on spending at least two years in a master’s degree program or five years in a doctoral program.

While working toward your master’s degree in nursing, you may take a wide range of advanced courses. In your first couple semesters of your program, plan on taking courses like Evidence-Based Practice for Health Care Providers, Biostatistics for Health Care Researchers, Nursing Leadership, Concepts in Population Health, and Genetics for Health Care Providers. Other courses in your curriculum may include Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing, Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, and Health Policy.

With the experience and theoretical training you get in a nurse practitioner program, you should have the knowledge to complete your clinical requirements. Clinical requirements do vary from school to school. However, you should spend no fewer than 600 hours with patients as a nurse practitioner student.

Advanced nursing students may have access to quite a few scholarships and grants. Look into applying for grants through the Washington Center for Nursing. The Washington State Nurses Association funds numerous scholarships for advanced nursing students as well.

Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Washington

The Washington State Department of Health is your next stop after you complete your master’s degree. After you pass a thorough exam in advanced nursing and have your transcript sent to the board, you can apply for your Advanced Practice Registered Nursing license.

Furthering your education in this way may allow you to benefit from a strong job outlook. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects a 20 percent increase in nurse practitioner jobs.

Nursing salaries in Washington tend to be slightly higher than the national average. The average salary for a nurse practitioner is $95,900 per year (O*Net, 2013). This is significantly higher than the national average for nurse practitioners (O*Net, 2013).

Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career? If you’re ready to change your future with a nurse practitioner degree, reach out to nurse practitioner schools in Washington now.