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How long would I need to go to school?
I’m a freshman in high school and I’m just starting to worry about what I want to do in the future. So I would like to know some information about this health care career. #Nurse #Practitioner
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Mary Jane’s Answer
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a graduate-level degree and usually takes a total of 6 to 8 years of education and training. Most NPs have either a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Nationally, there is a growing push for the DNP degree.
Some students will study nursing continuously from the time they graduate high school until they complete their graduate degree to become a NP, while others will complete their initial 2- or 4- year nursing degree, work for a few years, and then return to school to work on their graduate degree. Those who wish to work a few years between degrees obviously will take longer to actually become a licensed NP.
Check out the NP profession on ExploreHealthCareers.org: https://explorehealthcareers.org/career/nursing/nurse-practitioner/
Some students will study nursing continuously from the time they graduate high school until they complete their graduate degree to become a NP, while others will complete their initial 2- or 4- year nursing degree, work for a few years, and then return to school to work on their graduate degree. Those who wish to work a few years between degrees obviously will take longer to actually become a licensed NP.
Mary Jane recommends the following next steps:
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Jeanne’s Answer
Most nurse practitioner programs are at the Masters level and require a four year college degree and pass the nursing board examination to become a registered nurse. I recommend working after getting your nursing license because the experience is as important as the class room information you get in school and will make you a better nurse and better prepared for the advanced training.