As health care evolves and our aging population grows, Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are playing an increasingly critical role. Citing growth rate and projected salaries, U.S. News and World Report named Nurse Practitioner the second best job in the nation for 2017. We broke down FNP salaries by state to take a closer look at opportunities across the country. 

Unlike the research-focused Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing, the DNP is practice-focused and builds on education acquired through traditional master’s programs.

When preparing to apply to a graduate nursing program, there are many requirements and submission guidelines to remember. The component that allows you to tell your unique story — your personal statement — is one of the most important.

For Nursing@Simmons faculty member Caitlin Levesque, BS, RN, MSN, the decision to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) was a foregone conclusion. Since earning her RN/MSN from Simmons College in 2009, Levesque has fulfilled her dream of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-BC). She’s also become an ardent advocate for the Nursing@Simmons online model of education delivery.

According to the CDC, seven out of 10 deaths in the United States are due to chronic disease such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have the potential to play a significant role in preventive care, which has traditionally been provided by primary care physicians.

As legislatures across the U.S. begin to legalize the use of marijuana, Nurse Practitioners will face questions about if and when patients can use the drug as part of their treatment. 

Nursing@Simmons graduate Mary Kathleen Haber currently works as an FNP in Baltimore in a primary care outpatient setting. Learn more about Mary in the following Q&A.