Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Programs

The health care shortage facing the United States is a serious problem in much of the country, but it’s particularly prominent in states with large rural populations, such as Mississippi. Though millions of Americans are receiving access to health insurance for the first time ever, the availability of health care services is not increasing at the same rate. As a result, many employers and schools are attempting to increase the amount of working nurse practitioners (NPs) in Mississippi. If you’re currently working as a registered nurse, you may be on the right path to becoming an NP.

Working as a NP may give you an important role in nursing legislation in Mississippi, an important part of this field according to the Clarion-Ledger. Recent changes in nurse practitioner legislature have further increased the state’s demand for trained, educated nurse practitioners.

However, Kaiser Health News notes that nurse practitioners have been slowly increasing their autonomy in Mississippi. This is incredibly important for the state of Mississippi, as Mississippi has the worst doctor shortage in the entire country. Nurse practitioners have an important role in fixing this shortage.

Ready to start working toward becoming an advanced practice nurse? Keep reading to learn more about nurse practitioner programs in Mississippi, then contact those schools that interest you directly from our site.

Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Mississippi

As a nurse practitioner, you may be responsible for multiple patients at once. This requires a strong grasp of nursing theory, clinical skills in different specialties, and a knowledge of patient care standards. To develop this knowledge, you can earn a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree in nursing. If you attend school full-time, you may be able to graduate in as little as two years. Part-time students typically need to dedicate at least four to five years to their education.

The curriculum for your nurse practitioner program of choice should contain roughly 35 to 60 credits of nursing courses. You may begin with core courses like Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Practice Nursing Roles, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Pathophysiology. When you prove your abilities in these areas, you may proceed to high-level courses. This part of your education may include courses like Family Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis & Management, Advanced Practice Nurse Role, Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum, and Health Promotion.

Financial aid is an important part of your degree. Plan ahead by applying for scholarships early and often. Rise Up Mississippi! is a local organization that funds scholarships for graduate students. Scholarship programs are also available through the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.

Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Mississippi

You must go through the Mississippi Board of Nursing to be able to begin your career as a nurse practitioner. The licensing process requires you to keep your registered nursing license valid at all times. Once you submit proof of your education, you can apply to add advanced practice status to your RN license.

Nurse practitioners may enjoy a positive job outlook in the state of Mississippi. O*Net anticipates a 27 percent increase in nurse practitioner job openings through 2022, which may lead to the creation of almost 100 new jobs per year. On top of the job outlook, salaries tend to be considerably higher than registered nursing salaries. The average salary for a nurse practitioner is $91,800 per year (O*Net, 2013).

Nurse practitioners are a big part of health care in Mississippi. If you’re ready to get started in this field, contact NP schools in Mississippi now.