Nurse Practitioner
What's it like to be a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses with advanced education, several years of professional experience, and often specialisation in a particular field. Nurse Practitioners can work independently and are able to prescribe a wide range of medicines, which Registered Nurses cannot do. They may work in clinics or hospitals so may work regular daytime hours or be required to work shifts, and work in both urban and rural settings.
Tasks and duties
- Providing high quality health care.
- Performing advanced health assessments.
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests such as x-rays.
- Diagnosing health problems.
- Managing patients’ overall care.
- Prescribing medications.
- Making and receiving referrals to and from other health professionals.
How to become a Nurse Practitioner
As well as basic nursing qualifications, Nurse Practitioners must have several years of experience and a masters degree.
Complete a three-year Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Health Science degree from a university or polytechnic.
Gain at least four years of work experience in a clinical setting as a Registered Nurse.
Complete a clinically focused two-year masters degree approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
Pass a Nursing Council of New Zealand-approved assessment against the Nurse Practitioner competencies.
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