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Nurse Practitioner

Job Description

Nurse Practitioners are skilled health practitioners from both an educational and clinical background with the authority to practice beyond the level of a registered nurse. Nurse practitioners use their skills and knowledge to diagnose and treat health conditions within their field of expertise.

Pay

A nurse practitioner can earn up to $135,000 per year.

Work Hours

Depending on the location of work, nurse practitioners typically work 40 hours a week, which can include irregular hours including afterhours, nights, and weekends.

Study length

Becoming a nurse practitioner requires 7+ years of training.

To become a Nurse Practitioner, you need to:

Complete a Bachelor of Nursing
Complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing
Complete a Master of Nursing Degree
Complete four years’ experience in their area of practice and have at least 300 hours of clinical learning.
Complete and pass an examination against the nurse practices competencies.
Complete and register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Depending on the field you chose to specialise in, Nurse Practitioners could work in:

Primary care – nurse practitioners can own their own practices
Pediatric – working with young patients
Neonatal – focused on care for newborns pre and after birth
Women’s Health – reproductive and gynaecology for women of all ages
Psychiatric/Mental Health
Adult-Gerontology – focused on elder care.

Learn more about the importance of Nurse Practitioners:

Source: Nursing Council of New Zealand, I. (n.d.). Mātanga Tapuhi: Nurse Practitioner. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/public/nursing/scopes_of_practice/nurse_practitioner/ncnz/nursing-section/nurse_practitioner.aspx