Nurses are the backbone of patient care in our healthcare system, and recent nursing shortages have brought attention to the needs of the largest healthcare profession in the U.S.
Georgia State’s offering of online nursing programs exists to meet those needs, with unique specializations that lead to senior-level opportunities to help advance your career.
November 13-19 is National Nurse Practitioner Week, which recognizes the contributions and achievements of nurse practitioners across the country. This specialized field is projected to grow by 45% by 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting the large opportunity and need for professionals in the area.
Georgia State offers several nurse practitioner specializations, so today we’re taking a look at these specializations, the healthcare industry and how an advanced degree from Georgia State can put you in position to take one of these roles.
What is a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) who specialize in advanced nursing care for patients and their families. They assess patients and their needs, provide advanced care and implement new ways of care into patient lives.
Because of their level of expertise, nurse practitioners earned a median annual salary of $121,610 in 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the employment outlook for the occupation of 45% is 15 times the average of all occupations.
Nurse practitioners work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics and other providers, while many individuals in the field carry specializations in areas such as adult, pediatric or mental health.
How can I specialize?
Students enrolled in Georgia State nursing programs are part of the only nursing college in Georgia that offers the full spectrum of nursing education from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees (including D.N.P. and Ph.D.) and access to a range of healthcare organizations.
Georgia State’s online degree programs offer four specializations in different levels of care, and students can choose their specialization based on their career or professional goals. Specializations consist of 23-30 credit hours, each with comprehensive coursework to prepare you for a variety of roles.
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration can be completed in 23-26 credit hours and includes four credits of clinical experience (180 hours of clinical work). Courses focus on common health issues in adults, ambulatory care for women and end-of-life care, while students are able to choose a 3-hour elective to complete the specialization.
With a more widespread lens of the lifespan, the Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration can be completed in 26-31 credit hours. Students explore common health issues in adults, common health issues in children, ambulatory care of women and gerontological nursing. Each student completes 180 hours of clinical work, integrating previous course knowledge into a four-credit course.
The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration consists of only three courses, but these courses make up 26 credit hours of lectures with integrated clinicals. Students learn about common and chronic health issues in children and adolescents, focusing on the role of an advanced practice nurse in the care of younger patients. The specialization culminates in an eight-hour advanced practicum where students complete 360 hours of clinical work.
Available in 28-31 credits, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration prepares students to help those with mental health issues. Students complete coursework in theories of advanced psychiatric nursing, psychiatry in the adult lifespan, medical and psychiatric care of children, psychopharmacology, management of both common health issues and complicated cases in adults.
How can I get involved?
If one of these specializations aligns with your career goals, Georgia State offers several programs for you to earn another degree with a concentration in an area that interests you.
Georgia State’s online R.N. to M.S. program gives registered nurses with considerable practice experience and an associate degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program the opportunity to take an accelerated program to earn a master’s degree and specialization. Similarly, the online Master’s in Nursing program includes coursework with a built-in specialization.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program allows individuals to complete the requirements to sit for national certification examination as advanced practice nurses in their preferred specialty area. For those individuals who have already earned an MSN or DNP, the online Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate program gives you the opportunity to add a second or third specialty, expanding your career opportunities by giving you additional nursing skills and expertise. This program offers an additional specialization in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioning.
Interested in one of our all-encompassing nursing degree and certificate programs? Request more information for one of our graduate programs here.