New Jersey Nurse Practitioner Programs
Health care is a huge field in New Jersey, where the state’s growing population has placed a strain on local health care providers. As a registered nurse, you’re likely very familiar with the growing health care shortage in New Jersey and how it affects patients. Perhaps you’re ready to become a nurse practitioner and provide primary care to people all across the state, thereby doing your part to alleviate the health care professional shortage. Contact the nursing schools in New Jersey that offer Nurse Practitioner programs today to learn more.
New Jersey may be a great place for you to begin your nurse practitioner career, thanks to the support and services offered to nursing professionals. The New Jersey Herald reports on recent programs in this state that help nurses cope with pressure using mindfulness techniques.
As mandated staffing levels increase throughout the state, many employers may be looking to nurse practitioners to fill care gaps left by these new standards. Taking on an advanced practice role may allow you to competently and confidently care for more patients at one time.
The doctor shortage in New Jersey is expected to worsen as health legislation takes effect. Since nurse practitioners in New Jersey can make diagnoses and write prescriptions, you may help patients get the care they need.
Advanced nursing practice is a rewarding and engaging field. Find out if this is the right field for you by learning about nurse practitioner programs in New Jersey.
Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum in New Jersey
You may need to go through a rigorous admissions process to get into a nurse practitioner program in New Jersey. For the majority of programs in New Jersey, you need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you have an Associate’s degree in nursing, you may look into RN-to-MSN programs. Strong academic performance is also important; the majority of schools in this state require a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Some schools have work experience requirements, so you may need to spend one to three years working as an RN before you apply for an NP program.
Core nursing courses are required before you can take high-level nurse practitioner courses. The first semester of your program may be spent on classes like Advanced Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Advanced Pathophysiology. Other courses you may need to take include Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice, Leadership for Advanced Practice Nurses, Primary Care Theory, and Primary Care Practicum. By the time you graduate with an advanced nursing degree, you may have over 600 clinical hours under your belt.
Consider applying for nursing scholarships and grants after choosing an NP program. The New Jersey Nursing Initiative funds scholarships for high-performing students. If you join the New Jersey State Nurses Association, you may have access to a range of scholarships. Another local resource for scholarships is the New Jersey League for Nursing.
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in New Jersey
Upon completion of your nurse practitioner degree, you can apply for your license through the New Jersey Board of Nursing.You must maintain a valid registered nursing license at all times. From there, you can apply for advanced practice status and become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
There are quite a few benefits to becoming a nurse practitioner in New Jersey. To start, the job outlook is promising. Through 2022, O*Net predicts that job openings for nurse practitioners may increase by 22 percent. This is expected to lead to over 100 new jobs per year (O*Net, 2012). Salaries are also fairly competitive. The average salary for a New Jersey nurse practitioner is $103,500 per year (O*Net, 2013).
If you are ready to take the next step in your nursing career, use our school listings to reach out to nurse practitioner schools in New Jersey for program details.