Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with a postgraduate degree. They specialize in different streams of medicine and healthcare. Here you can find the nurse practitioner specialties list that covers all the different specialties.
The Nurse Practitioner Specialties List covers all streams of nurse practitioners.
From pediatric to family health care.
From gerontology to cancer care.
These highly trained professionals command very good salaries.
The healthcare stream which graduate nurses choose to study for their postgraduate degree decides their specialization and opens them the door to become specialized nurse practitioners.
They get the license to practice and the power to write prescriptions from registered licensing bodies like the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
In addition to a postgraduate degree in a nursing specialty, the licensing authority may want to know the work experience of the registered nurse.
NP also has to get a minimum score in an authorized qualifying examination. Licensing requirements, however, differ from state to state in the United States.
Here’s the United States’ Nurse Practitioner Specialties List.
You can also scroll down to Nurse Practitioner Specialties List in Australia if you wish.
Table of Contents
Cardiac Care Nurse Practitioner
This nurse practitioner’s specialty is cardiac and vascular care. Heart failure, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, arterial blockages, and cholesterol.
CCNP is trained in the cardiovascular assessment, anticoagulation therapy and treatment with cardiovascular devices. Like pacemakers.
Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner
Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner functions in high-stress situations.
The Emergency Room is not for weak hearts. The emergency room NPs have to face highly unstable medical situations: trauma and bloody injuries.
At times they are called to bring back to life dead patients!
They are trained to remain calm in the most trying of circumstances.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
This is another star from the Nurse Practitioner Specialties List.
Neonatal nurse practitioners take care of the newborn.
She also cares for infants and toddlers and is trained to handle high-risk and preterm deliveries. The neonatal nurse practitioner can work independently.
NNP works often at Intensive Care Units.
In addition to these, NNPs are quite comfortable in private practice.
Check out these articles of ours if you want to learn more about neonatal nursing:
Cancer Nurse Practitioner
Number #4 in the Neonatal Nurse Specialties List is a Cancer Nurse Practitioner.
Cancer patients and their families require a great deal of psychological support. The cancer nurse practitioner is a professional with compassion.
Somebody who never loses her cool in tragic and stressful conditions.
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Yet another star from the Nurse Practitioners Specialties List.
The orthopedic nurse practitioner helps resolve musculoskeletal issues.
She/he treats broken bones and dislocated joints. The orthopedic nurse practitioner works in tandem with orthopedics to set broken bones and project outcomes.
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner treats and takes care of very ill children.
Those with painful and critical illnesses that can run the gamut of their lives.
They not only diagnose but also draw up healthcare plans including treatment regimes. Pediatric acute care nurses are pillars of support and strength to parents and siblings of the children they care for.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Number #6 in the nurse practitioner specialties list is a family nurse practitioner.
As the title suggests the Family Nurse Practitioner is a nurse to the entire family.
The primary healthcare of the family is their responsibility. They are trained to diagnose and treat different ailments that trouble an average family.
The family nurse practitioners also act as a sounding board. They allay fears and builds confidence.
Besides that, they take care of the newborn and treats ailments afflicting aging adults. In addition, FNPs have the power to prescribe medication.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is a star in the Nurse Practitioner Specialties List.
The pediatric nurse practitioner is a caregiver to infants and growing children. They keep track of their patients’ growth to ensure that the children mature in a naturally measured manner.
They are a source of immense strength to her young patients and their worried parents.
This type of nurse practitioner helps the patients and their caretakers in more than one way.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
They are nurse practitioners with considerable knowledge of psychiatry.
They help treat patients with mental health issues. They are specially trained to take care of patients with mental illness.
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are trained to read a patient’s state of mind.
Their knowledge is not limited to the theoretical alone. They are also clinical and scientific in their quest.
See also: Where Do Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Work?
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Next up in the nurse practitioner specialties list is an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner.
This specialist nurse practitioner takes care of the elderly who suffer from chronic health conditions that are acute and critical.
They treat adults who require advanced healthcare and need that without any pitfall.
They work with teams of specialized professionals and study a patient’s medical history to treat specific needs.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
As the title says, this nurse practitioner is a women’s health specialist.
They also take care of adolescent girls. Pregnant women and those battling menopause woes.
Tricky! They treat eating disorders and give advice on contraceptives and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Primary Care Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Last but not least in the nurse practitioner specialties list is a primary care gerontology nurse practitioner.
This specialist nurse practitioner keeps adults on course to live healthy lives as they age.
Their specialization is in gerontology, both primary and preventive care. They not only diagnose but also treat patients.
PCGNPs have special ability and knowledge to treat chronic adult illnesses.
Nurse Practitioner Specialties List Australia
Does nurse practitioner specialties list in Australia differ from the list in the USA?
Like in the United States and the United Kingdom, Australia also has nurse practitioners.
But there is no classification of nurses in Australia. Similar to the USA, the Australian Nurse Practitioner must have a postgraduate degree in Nursing.
Registered nurses with a PG in Nursing and endorsed by the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia (NBMA) can become nurse practitioners. Most Australian nurse practitioners work in the public sector.
Check out these articles of ours to learn more about nursing in Australia:
- What Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe in Australia?
- How to Become a Neonatal Nurse in Australia
- Do Nurses Get Drug Tested in Australia?
- Can Nurses Have Tattoos in Australia?
Nurse Practitioners’ Salary
Compared to other professions, salaries of the Nurse Practitioner is quite remarkable.
The average salary in the United States is above $100000 per year.
And with demand for specialized nurses on the rise, the salaries can only get better. Nurse practitioners are an important cog in the healthcare system. They are crucial to both primary and specialty care.
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They also do a lot of preventive care. Today nurses travel to a lot of countries to take up jobs.
See also: Do Travel Nurses Get Health Insurance?
Also because healthcare all over the world is getting a makeover, most nurses on the move are qualified and experienced nurse practitioners.
I hope this Nurse Practitioner Specialties List gave you a good outlook about different options you have as a nurse practitioner. If you want to study nursing let these articles of ours guide you:
- Is Nursing For Me Quiz
- How to Become a Registered Nurse
- How to Become a Respiratory Therapist
- ADN vs BSN
- What Are Nurse Practitioners Not Allowed to Do?
- How to Address a Nurse Practitioner
- How Many Nurse Practitioners Can a Physician Supervise?
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