Your Complete Guide to Remote Nurse Practitioner Jobs

Do you know that certain nurses can diagnose diseases and prescribe medications? These pivotal healthcare workers are called “nurse practitioners,” or NPs for short. Read on to find out more about this esteemed occupation and how to find remote nurse practitioner jobs.

Remote Nurse Practitioner Job Overview

If you have years of experience as a registered nurse but you’ve also wanted to break into the work from home lifestyle, remote practitioner jobs are a great option. Not only are they the next logical step in a nursing career, but they’re also one of the highest-ranked jobs in the country. According to 2022 U.S. News & World Report, a nurse practitioner ranks #1 for the Best Healthcare Jobs, #2 in the 100 Best Jobs in the U.S., and the #2 overall in STEM jobs. And with projected growth topping 45% from now through the next decade, it’s also one of the fastest-growing in the nation.

If you’ve thought of taking your career to the next level or pivoting to a remote position, use this complete guide to remote nurse practitioner jobs to aid you in your job hunt.

What Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Do?

Also known as NPs, nurse practitioners are registered nurses who complete advanced education and training in medical diagnosis and treatment. Nurse practitioners can:

While nurse practitioners can practice in general medicine, many choose to pursue a specific path. Some of the most popular areas of expertise for nurse practitioners include:

This isn’t an exhaustive list of various practices of nurse practitioners, but it should give you the idea that opportunities are almost limitless within this specific healthcare profession.

On top of treating patients, nurse practitioners also offer customized and holistic health solutions for patients. This ranges from encouraging patients to eat more healthy, exercise, or change certain aspects of their lifestyle. They may also play an integral role as a liaison between patient and family, especially in cases of hospice care or terminal illnesses.

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), 88.9% of NPs hold a certification in primary care and 69.7% of NPs practice family care. Moreover, the average age of NPs is 49 years of age and the average NP has been in their position for 11 years.

Where Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Work?

Nurse practitioners work in a variety of healthcare environments, such as:

Some remote nurse practitioners work entirely from home, while others visit healthcare sites or patient homes one or more times per week. On average, NPs have three patients per hour and write 21 prescriptions per day, according to the AANP.

How Much Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for nurse practitioners in the United States is $123,780 per year or $59.51 per hour. The states with the highest wages for nurse practitioners include:

Interestingly, the top 10 cities for remote nurse practitioner jobs in terms of pay are all in California. Among these jobs, the highest pay is $197,870 in San Jose while Fresno rounds out the top 10 with a median wage of $147,760 per year.

How Much Education Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Need?

To become a remote nurse practitioner, education is a core requirement. First, you need to earn a registered nurse (RN) designation. While some two-year colleges offer an intro program and continued training and education, most NPs gain a nursing degree from a four-year university.

Once you’ve obtained a nursing degree and RN designation, you can go directly to graduate school or enter the workforce. Entering the workforce before deciding to become a nurse practitioner can make you a more viable candidate in the future, simply because it adds experience to your resume. Finding a job as a nurse practitioner without on-the-job experience isn’t impossible, but it’s more difficult. Employers always look for experience in an NP compared to one who’s only completed academic courses.

Whichever route you take, a Master of Science in Nursing typically takes three years to complete. During this time, you will also complete clinical hours and take a wide variety of courses. Some NPs may also choose to pursue a doctoral degree for more job opportunities, increased pay, and a genuine love of the subject matter.

Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Need Certifications and Licenses?

After earning an RN and a Master of Science in Nursing, remote nurse practitioners must earn both national and state licensing. The national nurse practitioner board certification exam is required for all NPs. Once a prospective NP passes the test, the next step is to gain licensure in the state where they wish to practice. State licensing requirements and exams vary by state, but NPs must have a license for every state in which they wish to practice.

Every five years, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners also requires 100 contact hours of advanced continued education to recertify as a nurse practitioner. This includes 25 hours specifically dedicated to continued education in pharmacology.

What Skills Do Remote Nurse Practitioners Need?

While education, background, specific expertise, certifications, and licenses are all part of earning a remote nurse practitioner job, NPs need a mix of hard and soft skills to excel at their position. Although remote NP jobs will list many of the skills necessary to garner consideration for a job, here are some of the most coveted skills for remote nurse practitioners:

Companies Hiring for Remote Nurse Practitioner Jobs

As the top-ranked job in the fast-growing healthcare industry, countries from coast to coast are looking to hire for remote nurse practitioner jobs. Where you choose to work is entirely up to you, your tastes, and your experience. But here’s a list of some of the top employers in the nurse practitioner field.

UnitedHealth Group

With revenue topping $280 billion annually, UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health insurance companies in the world and the largest in the United States. The company currently ranks #4 on the Fortune 500 and continues to expand due to an aging baby-boomer population and improved diagnoses of mental illness. On top of providing excellent perks and wages, UnitedHealth Group also earns top marks as an employer, as a Top 500 Employer from Forbes, as well as #13 on LinkedIn’s Top Companies List.

Oscar Insurance Corporation

Founded in New York City in 2013, Oscar Insurance Corporation is a relative newcomer to the healthcare industry, but its modern ideas make it a successful outlier. Focused almost entirely on telemedicine and the integration into technology as a new way to reach patients, the company’s staff has one of the highest rates of remote workers in the industry.

Charlie Health, Inc.

Charlie Health, Inc. is a Montana-based healthcare company that also focuses on telemedicine and telehealth solutions. However, Charlie Health focuses on outpatient treatment specifically for patients in rural areas and places that have an underserved adolescent population. In particular, the company helps those with addiction and mental health issues, which necessitates the need for NPs with backgrounds in mental health and pharmacology.

Mantra Health

As one of the more intriguing business models in the industry, Mantra Health pairs with universities to provide mental health services to college students. Using software platforms and technology that provide a user-friendly interface for younger individuals, students can get the help they need when they need it. Mantra Health offers stock equity options, access to its services, and unlimited paid time off for its employees, making it a great option for NPs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions that aspiring healthcare workers ask.

Q. What Is the Difference Between a Registered Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner?

A. A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who earned either a degree from an accredited nursing program, an associate degree in nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A nurse practitioner (NP) is an RN who earned a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and completed advanced clinical training.

Q. What Is the Difference Between a Physician and a Nurse Practitioner?

A. A physician is a medical practitioner who earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, whereas a nurse practitioner received an advanced degree in nursing. Both professionals diagnose, treat, and research conditions, but their approaches to treatment and managed care differ. For example, physicians tend to focus more on disease mechanisms, pharmaceutical treatment, and surgical repairs, whereas nurse practitioners tend to provide holistic care to address their patients’ overall lifestyles.

Q. What Is the Difference Between an ADN, APRN, BNS, DNP, Ph.D., LPN, LVN, NP, and RN?

A. Here is a list of common professional nursing acronyms and their corresponding meanings:

There are other acronyms for specific degrees, certifications, and licenses. In general, designations are typically presented after a nurse’s name in the following order: education, licensure, and specialty.

Q. How Do I Find Remote Nurse Practitioner Jobs?

A. Through the Virtual Vocations Job Database, of course! Sign up as a member and start searching for positions right away. Use the job search filters to help find listings that match your work and lifestyle goals.

How to Start Your Remote Nurse Practitioner Career

If you don’t have the experience and education to become a remote nurse practitioner, keep on going! You have the drive to make it happen. But if you have all of the necessary licenses, certifications, education, and the desire to work from home, Virtual Vocations can put you on the path to finding the perfect career. With a jobs database with thousands of listings, career services, a Remote Healthcare Career Guide, and other services, Virtual Vocations provides you with everything you need to succeed.

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