How to Hire a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a unique role in the healthcare industry – their blend of clinical expertise and compassionate care makes them a valuable part of any team. NPs have additional credentials and training when compared to registered nurses (RNs), and because of this, they are able to bridge the gap between traditional nursing and physician-led care. By working collaboratively with doctors and other nurses, NPs create a seamless care system, leading to improved patient outcomes. Continue reading to learn how to hire a nurse practitioner, including what qualifications are needed to be a nurse practitioner, the average nurse practitioner salary, nurse practitioner interview questions, and more.

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

Nurse practitioners and registered nurses have similar job duties, but because of their advanced training and certification, NPs are able to take their care a step further. They are allowed to perform some of the duties that a physician might take on, such as prescribing treatments, ordering tests, and diagnosing patients. Their job duties will also depend on the specialty, however, common responsibilities of NPs include:

Perform comprehensive patient assessments, then diagnose and treat acute and chronic health conditions
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans for patients
Promote preventive care and educate patients and their families on maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Manage patients with chronic conditions, monitoring their progress and adjusting treatment plans as needed
Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals
Participate in healthcare research, evidence-based practice, and continuous professional development
Contribute to healthcare policy development and quality improvement

Highest Education Level

NPs offer the following education background

Master's Degree (79.9%)

Doctorate Degree (11.6%)

Bachelor's Degree (6.5%)

Associate's Degree (0.9%)

Vocational Degree or Certification (0.7%)

High School or GED (0.4%)

Some College (0.1%)

Some High School (0.0%)

Qualifications / Skills

The following top skills are often required or desired to land an NP position

Chronic Disease Management, Drug Enforcement Administration, Hospitalist, Suturing, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Family Medicine, Family Practice, History & Physical Exam, Splinting, Master of Science in Nursing, Gerontology, Health Promotion, Internal Medicine, Treatment Planning, Urgent Care

Average Work Experience

Here's a breakdown of the years of experience offered by NPs

1-2 years (34.8%)

2-4 years (34.8%)

None (17.4%)

4-6 years (8.7%)

Less than 1 year (4.4%)

Qualifications and Skills Needed to Be a Nurse Practitioner

When hiring a nurse practitioner, certain key skills and qualifications are crucial to ensure you find the best fit for your healthcare team. The key differentiator between an NP and an RN is their education and training. NPs and RNs both must have their RN license, but NPs must also have their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or higher and meet the number of clinical hours or other requirements mandated by your state. Some specialties have additional licenses or certifications.

There are also specific soft skills needed to be a nurse practitioner that you should look for when hiring an NP. NPs should possess excellent communication skills and demonstrate empathy towards patients and their families in order to build trust and cooperation. NPs also need exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills to handle the complex medical situations they encounter every day. Finally, NPs need to be team players who are able to collaborate and adapt to any situation in order to provide the best patient care possible.

Take a look at the other most common skills and qualifications employers on iHireAdvancePractitioners look for in an NP to get a better idea of what makes a good candidate.

The average NP salary will change based on your location and the specialty, so be sure to do your research. iHire’s Salary Research tool is a great way to see NP salaries in your state.

Nurse Practitioner Job Ad Sample

An appealing nurse practitioner job ad is key to attracting top nursing talent. Make sure your posting contains all the basics of what makes a great job ad, like a two-to-three-word title, information about your company culture, and any notable benefits and perks. Close out your posting with a clear and compelling call to action to convince candidates to apply. Use this nurse practitioner job ad sample to get started:

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

[Your practice] is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Nurse Practitioner to join our reputable healthcare facility and contribute to our mission of providing quality and compassionate healthcare services to our community.

You will work collaboratively with our team of healthcare professionals to assess, diagnose, and treat patients across various age groups and medical conditions. Your expertise and caring approach will be instrumental in promoting preventive care, managing chronic illnesses, and ensuring the overall well-being of our patients.

Responsibilities:

Conduct patient assessments, including medical history, physical examinations, and symptom evaluation.
Diagnose and treat medical conditions.
Develop comprehensive, individualized treatment plans, incorporating patient preferences and evidence-based guidelines.
Prescribe medications, therapies, and other interventions as appropriate for patients’ conditions.
Educate patients and their families on health management, disease prevention, and treatment options, fostering a proactive approach to healthcare.
Provide compassionate care and emotional support to patients and their families throughout the treatment process.
Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to ensure seamless and coordinated patient care.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, adhering to legal and ethical standards of practice.

Qualifications:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited nursing program.
Current and unrestricted Nurse Practitioner license in the state of [Your State].
Certification as a Nurse Practitioner in [Specialty Area]
Minimum of [Number] years of clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner, preferably in [Specialty Area].
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, fostering a patient-centered and compassionate approach to care.
Ability to work collaboratively within a team-based healthcare environment.

Nurse Practitioner Interview Questions

When interviewing nurse practitioner candidates, you want to assess their approach to patient care, their ability to collaborate, and their overall clinical knowledge. Consider conducting peer interviews as well to get insights into each candidate that a traditional interview might not catch. Use the following nurse practitioner interview questions for inspiration and be sure to tailor them to your practice or specialty’s needs.

Describe a challenging patient case you handled and the steps you took to diagnose and treat the patient.
How do you ensure effective collaboration with other healthcare team members?
What do you do when a patient requests unnecessary medication?
How do you approach patients from diverse cultural backgrounds to ensure culturally competent care?
What strategies do you use to promote preventive care and patient adherence to treatment plans?
How do you stay updated on the latest medical advancements and evidence-based practices in your field?
How do you approach patient education and empowerment?
How do you handle difficult or emotional situations with patients and their families?
Describe a situation where you had to adapt to changes in a patient’s condition or treatment plan.
How do you handle a situation where a patient disagrees with your treatment plan or recommendation?
Describe a time when you collaborated with a physician or another healthcare provider to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Explain a scenario where you went above and beyond to provide exceptional patient care.