A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education (generally a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common as well as complex medical conditions. Nurse Practitioners provide a broad range of health care services. Only in 23 states can a NP work autonomously. In the other 28 states, (Puerto Rico I'm assuming) must practice in collaboration with a physician, although they can write prescriptions and have a DEA number. Depending on what path you choose, it would take two more years for your BSN then another two for your MSN. With all the bridge programs etc popping up maybe less than four years.

A friend of mine who I respect a great deal, when she decided to go back to school for her advanced practice, no one saw her except on rare occasions for almost a two years because she was studying constantly, involved in clinicals etc. She's a wonderful NP with her own private practice. She puts in as many hours as any GP and loves every second of it.

do they start at 6 figures $100,000/yr or they get paid like a RN?