Questions about the roles and academic training of NPs.

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1. Can nurse practioners work in ICU, MED SURG, PICU, or ER? I am only interested in these areas.

2. Do Nurse Practitioners get just as much challenging work as the RNs do in the working hospital field?

3. If nurse practioners are almost just as knowledgable as doctors, does this mean they study sciences like Anatomy and Physiology in great depth in grad school? This is my favorite subject and I just love studying parts of the body and knowing how it all works.

4. What extra knowledge do NPs have that RNs don't?

If anyone could answer all these questions for m that would be amazing! I am 17 and trying to figure out what I want to do with my education in the next few years, starting college this summer and I know I want to be a nurse!

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1. Can nurse practioners work in ICU, MED SURG, PICU, or ER? I am only interested in these areas.

Yes

2. Do Nurse Practitioners get just as much challenging work as the RNs do in the working hospital field?

Probably more so as you are now the provider writing the orders. The learning never stops. Plus now you can get mad at the nurses because they forgot to get that Depakote level for you :)

3. If nurse practioners are almost just as knowledgable as doctors, does this mean they study sciences like Anatomy and Physiology in great depth in grad school? This is my favorite subject and I just love studying parts of the body and knowing how it all works.

Our study does not go into as much depth as physicians so we are not as knowledgeable. If you want something even more challenging, study the brain and or the mind...if you can find it.

4. What extra knowledge do NPs have that RNs don't?

Go look at an NP program curriculum and you'll see the additional courses that are needed for NP school.

If anyone could answer all these questions for m that would be amazing! I am 17 and trying to figure out what I want to do with my education in the next few years, starting college this summer and I know I want to be a nurse!

How amazing is it?

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