"Adult nurse practitioners can see anyone but infants and children," says Joyce Karl, DNP, RN, APRN-CNP, director of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty program at Ohio State University. They treat patients for overall wellness and for conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and sports injuries. Some focus on particular age groups, such as college students or older adults.
Demand is high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nurse practitioner employment will grow about 40% from 2024 to 2034, making it one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. The role requires an advanced degree: at least a master's, though doctoral degrees are common.
Education Requirements
An adult nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), so the first step is becoming a licensed RN. You can do that with either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Once licensed, you pursue a graduate degree.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum for the role, though a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is worth considering. The field continues to shift toward the DNP as the standard entry point for nurse practitioners.
Licenses and Certifications
After completing your education, follow your state's APRN licensure rules. This generally means paying a fee, submitting proof of education, and passing a national certification exam in your specialty. Adult nurse practitioners earn the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP) certification from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). You will need an MSN or DNP, or be within six months of graduating from either.
Other requirements include an RN license in good standing, a transcript proving your education, 500 supervised clinical practice hours, and graduate-level courses in advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. Some states require a separate prescriptive authority license to prescribe medication.
What Adult Nurse Practitioners Do
Adult NPs generally act as primary care providers, delivering care similar to a physician's:
- Assessing patients and administering physical exams
- Diagnosing health conditions and injuries
- Ordering tests such as X-rays and bloodwork
- Providing treatments and prescribing medications
- Creating care plans and recording medical histories
- Keeping detailed care notes
- Educating patients about their conditions, medications, and treatments
"Adult nurse practitioners provide integrated, accessible care to people from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds," says Karl. "They perform physical examinations, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications and treatments, and provide education and counseling."
Where You Will Work
Adult NPs work in hospitals, physicians' offices, private offices, health practices, and community health clinics. "You can find jobs in various businesses, in prisons or universities, or for health plans," says Karl. "You can also provide telehealth, work in nurse-run clinics, or even your own independent clinics."
Salary
The BLS does not break out adult nurse practitioners separately, but it reports a median annual wage of $129,210 for nurse practitioners (May 2024). Earnings vary by location, experience, and setting. Because primary care providers can practice independently in some states, adult NPs often open their own clinics, which puts them in control of their schedule, earnings, and growth.
Job Outlook
Growth is driven by demand for nurse practitioners in primary care amid an ongoing nursing shortage, expected to continue through at least 2031 as nurses retire and the baby boomer generation ages. Physicians are also retiring in large numbers. Adult NPs are positioned to fill both nursing leadership roles and the primary care roles left open by retiring physicians.
Professional Resources
Stay current through professional organizations and publications. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners offers continuing education, career resources, and more. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners publishes the latest academic articles and research in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an adult nurse practitioner? An adult nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides primary and specialty care to adolescents and adults. They assess patients, diagnose conditions, order and interpret tests, and prescribe medications, often serving as a primary care provider.
What degree do you need to become an adult nurse practitioner? You need at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and many enter through a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). You first become a licensed RN, then complete an accredited adult-gerontology NP program with the required supervised clinical hours.
What certification do adult nurse practitioners hold? Most earn the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner credential through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). Candidates must graduate from an accredited NP program, hold an active RN license, and complete at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours (AANPCB).
How much do nurse practitioners make? The median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $129,210 in May 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Pay varies by state, setting, and experience.
What is the job outlook for nurse practitioners? The BLS projects nurse practitioner employment to grow about 40% from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average for all occupations, driven by an aging population and demand for primary care.
Where do adult nurse practitioners work? They practice in hospitals, physicians' offices, community health clinics, universities, correctional facilities, telehealth, and, in states that allow it, their own independent clinics.