Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Nurse Practitioner
What nurse practitioners actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Review the clinic schedule and messages. From there, the day usually includes assess and examine patients, diagnose acute and chronic conditions, and prescribe medications and treatments. Clinic NPs usually work weekdays; hospital NPs may work shifts, nights and weekends.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a nurse practitioner working full time.
- Review the clinic schedule and messages.
- See a child with an ear infection.
- Adjust blood pressure medications for an adult.
- Do an annual wellness exam.
- Review lab results and call patients.
- See a patient with anxiety and discuss treatment.
- Finish charting and refill requests.
Where nurse practitioners work
NPs work in primary care clinics, hospitals, specialty practices, urgent care, schools and telehealth.
Hours and schedule
Clinic NPs usually work weekdays; hospital NPs may work shifts, nights and weekends.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Assess and examine patients
- Diagnose acute and chronic conditions
- Prescribe medications and treatments
- Order and interpret tests
- Manage chronic disease
- Educate patients and families
- Coordinate referrals and care
Tools you’ll use every day
- Electronic health records
- Exam equipment
- E-prescribing
- Telehealth platforms
- Point-of-care tests
- Clinical guidelines
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Among the fastest-growing jobs
- High pay
- Independent practice in many states
- Strong patient relationships
What’s hard
- Years of education
- Heavy patient loads
- Documentation burden
- Liability and responsibility
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m a nurse who wants more autonomy
- I enjoy diagnosing and treating
- I like building patient relationships
- I want strong job prospects
- I’m willing to study more
- I think independently
Not sure? Take the free Nurse Practitioner fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow infection control
- Verify allergies and interactions
- Use prescription monitoring databases
- Know when to refer or escalate