Nurse Practitioner Specialties

The amount of experience needed varies per program and specialty track. For example, you may work as a bedside nurse in an intensive care unit and then pursue a NP degree with a specialty in adult critical care.

Many NP specialties are offered. However, the most common specialties include:

• Family practice 
• Adult critical care
• Psychiatric and mental health
• Pediatrics
• Women’s health 

NPs have many options to choose from when deciding on a specialty track. There is even flexibility within each specialty as to what experience is needed. This is because nursing experience can be applied to all areas of nursing.

Nurses usually go into the NP specialty in which they worked during their RN career, but not always. You are allowed to switch specialties.  

For example, if you worked as an emergency room nurse, you could choose to pursue a NP in women’s health.

The Role of the NP

Once the graduate has obtained an APRN-NP license either via MSN or DNP program, they may begin work as a nurse practitioner. 

 The most common roles for NPs include:

• Taking and recording medical histories and symptoms of patients
• Performing physical exams and observing patients
• Creating patient care plans or contributing to existing plans
• Performing and prescribing diagnostic tests
• Operating and monitoring medical equipment
• Diagnosing various health problems
• Analyzing test results or changes in a patient’s condition and altering treatment plans as needed
• Evaluating a patient’s response to medicines and treatments
• Consulting with doctors and other healthcare professionals as needed
• Counseling and teaching patients and their families how to stay healthy or manage their illnesses or injuries
• Conducting research

Where Do NPs Work?

Nurse practitioners usually work independently or in coordination with physicians and other team members.

NPs typically work in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices.