This southern, seaside state has seen strong growth in the number of active nurse practitioners. Between 2009 and 2010, the number of nurse practitioners in North Carolina increased by eight percent. The NP population has increased steadily over the past 16 years. Currently, there are almost 4000 NPs in practice in North Carolina.
North Carolina, though, has a great need for mental health professionals. Currently, there is an acute shortage of child, adult and geriatric psychiatrists. Nearly two-thirds of North Carolina's counties have experienced a decrease in available psych services. That tremendous need could translate into bountiful opportunities for psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners.
Nurse practitioners in North Carolina are jointly regulated by the Boards of Nursing and Medicine. A collaborative agreement with a North Carolina physician is required to diagnose and treat patients and to prescribe medication.
The average annual salary for a North Carolina nurse practitioner ranges from $80,000 to $89,000, with NPs in urban areas earning more than their rural counterparts.
North Carolina nurses who want to advance their education and become nurse practitioners can attend an online school, or one of these in-state schools:
- Duke University. Duke's school of nursing is ranked among the top 15 national nursing schools by U.S. News and World Report. The master's-level adult nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and geriatric nurse practitioner programs are offered primarily online. Students can also select the neonatal nurse practitioner, oncology nurse practitioner and pediatric (primary or acute) nurse practitioner tracks.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill was the first university in North Carolina to offer a nurse practitioner program. U.S. News and World Report ranked UNC-Chapel Hill's pediatric nurse practitioner program 10th in the nation; their family nurse practitioner program ranked 11th. The school also offers an innovative combined clinical nurse specialist/nurse practitioner program in psych/mental health.
- East Carolina University. Located in Greenville, East Carolina offers master's-level NP tracks such as: adult nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner and neonatal nurse practitioner. Most coursework is offered online; clinical practice sites are arranged close to students' homes.
Accredited schools with NP programs in North Carolina:
