Montana Nurse Practitioner Programs
If you live and work in Montana, you may be in the perfect position to tackle some of the state’s most significant health care problems. Montana is a state that is largely made of rural communities, and many of these communities are underserved by medical doctors and general practitioners. Nurse practitioners, who can prescribe medications and see patients for many common problems, may be the key to alleviating the health care shortage in Montana. Learn more about nurse practitioner programs in Montana if you’re ready to take the next step in your career.
The Great Falls Tribune notes that health care organizations are changing in Montana, as many organizations are increasing their hiring of nurse practitioners and other midlevel care providers. Kaiser Health News notes that nurse practitioners are a core part of national efforts to increase access to health care. This could be the ideal career path for you if you want to work in primary care.
In addition, you may have access to special benefits or student loan options if you become a nurse practitioner. The Primary Care Office of Montana reports on underserved areas that need nurse practitioners.
Considering an advanced degree in nursing? Keep reading to learn more about nurse practitioner programs in Montana.
Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in Montana
You need to meet many educational goals to become a nurse practitioner. Become familiar with the program outcomes of your chosen school if you want to know what you’ll learn as a nurse practitioner student. As you work through your curriculum, you may discover how to design health promotion clinical programs, use nursing research to make clinical decisions, promote the field of nursing through your clinical practice, and provide many types of health care to your patients.
The curriculum for your NP program may cover well over 30 credits. Some of the core advanced nursing courses you may take include Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, Advanced Health Assessment, and Pharmacology. Other important classes you may take include Primary Care, Transition to Advanced Practice, and Leadership in Advanced Nursing Roles. Many of these courses require you to complete a set number of clinical hours. By the time you graduate, you should have more than 600 hours underneath your belt.
Quite a few different organizations in Montana offer advanced nursing scholarships, including employers, nursing organizations, and government agencies. Holy Rosary Healthcare funds the Millie & Ken Horn Nursing Scholarship. Scholarships are also offered by the Montana Health Care Association. The Montana Nurses Association provides nursing students with many different scholarship options.
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Montana
Are you ready to get your nurse practitioner license and start your career? It all starts at the Montana Board of Nursing with your existing RN license. After passing a thorough NP exam and applying to have your license upgraded, you can become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and start practicing independently.
Anticipated job growth in Montana is in line with the national average, so this may be a promising place to begin your career. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects job openings for nurse practitioners to increase by 31%. Generally speaking, nurse practitioner salaries in Montana are similar to those reported across the country. The reported salary range goes from $66,700 to $118,400 per year (O*Net, 2013). The average salary earned by a Montana nurse practitioner is $88,200 per year (O*Net, 2013).
Now that you know more about what it means to be a nurse practitioner, you may be ready to get started. Use our list of schools to contact Montana nurse practitioner schools today.