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Nurse practitioners (NPs) are health care workers who wear many hats. They can prescribe medication, often function as primary care-givers in many locations, and, like doctors, can choose to specialize in whatever aspects of medicine interest them most. What's more, they are often able to choose their work setting--whether private practice, emergency facilities, academia or clinics. For these reasons, nurse practitioner placed fourth on CNNMoney's list of the 50 Best Jobs in America.

Nurse practitioners function as the family medical provider for many, and they need to possess similar aptitudes and attributes as physicians--an eye for detail and good listening skills to help with diagnosing medical conditions, emotional stability for handling pressure-filled situations in medical settings, and a knack for science--something that helps them successfully complete the programs at nurse practitioner schools.

Nurse practitioner training online and on campus

The first step in achieving nurse practitioner status is completing the necessary training to become an RN. This can be an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), or a diploma program, as well as direct patient care. In most cases, state regulations require at least master's degree for NPs. To become NPs, nurses with an ADN or diploma enter a Bachelor of Science to master's program. They may be able to find a staff nursing position and take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs.

Next, the nurse must complete a state-approved advanced training program, like a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with emphasis in a field such as family practice, internal medicine or women's health. These professionals then obtain the state license to practice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that advance practice nurses like nurse practitioners need at least a master's degree to get licensed. However, in 2015, many employers are upping the ante and requiring a doctorate degree (Doctor of Nursing Practice, or DNP) for their nurse practitioners. All of these required nursing degrees can be earned at nurse practitioner schools, and training is available online in all states.

Nurse practitioner salaries

The BLS does not separate the nurse practitioner salary from that of all registered nurses, which was $67,720 in 2010. However, advanced practice nurses like nurse practitioners do earn significantly more than average RNs in most cases. According to a 2010 salary survey conducted by Advance.com, a site geared to advanced practice nurses like nurse practitioners, nurse practitioners earned on average $90,770 nationwide. Those working in adrenaline-charged emergency settings packed the biggest paychecks, bringing in $104,549, followed by those working in aesthetics and skin care practices at $102,547, mental health at $104,914, and cardiology at $100,881.

Top pay can be found in California, with 2010 annual salaries for all RNs averaging $87,480, Massachusetts, where RNs earned $84,990, and Hawaii, where they brought in $82,130. The cost of living for these states is also higher than average, however some states offer a high wage relative to the cost of living. With 2010 annual average wage data from the BLS and ACCRA cost-of-living data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, these states include:

• Texas: $66,180 annual wage and the fifth-lowest cost of living in the U.S.
• Kentucky: $58,130 annual wage and the lowest cost of living in the U.S.
• Mississippi: $57,940 annual wage and the tenth-lowest cost of living in the U.S.

Like many careers in health care, job opportunities in registered nursing are expected to be "excellent" from 2008 to 2018, according to BLS projections. The field is growing much faster than average for all occupations during that time period.