Nurse Practitioner Licensing Guide for the state of Utah
A journey towards attaining a nurse practitioner license in Utah may seem complicated, but not when you have the right information. The Nurse Practitioner (NP) license opens you up to great possibilities and freedom. It provides an opportunity to give your passion for the nursing profession a full expression. In this guide, you will find information you need to become a licensed nurse practitioner in Utah.
The APRN is the collective name for nursing roles that are a step higher than the registered nurse (RN). These roles are:
- Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNW)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNA)
- Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
The Certified Nurse Practitioner, or Nurse Practitioner, which is the focus of this guide, enjoys more autonomy than RNs. NPs are free to perform every role an RN can and more. These extra responsibilities include:
- Prescribing medication
- Ordering and conducting medical examinations of patients
- Analyzing results of medical examinations
- Collecting patient’s samples
- Collecting information from patients
- Educating patients on complicated medical and treatment procedures
NPs also earn significantly higher than RNs. Alongside the gap in autonomy and remuneration is that of qualifications. NPs require a higher level of qualifications than RNs. The qualifications for the NP license in Utah are set by the Utah State Board of Nursing. The board is responsible for regulating the practice of nursing in the state. These regulations include setting standards of practice, issuance of licenses, and taking disciplinary action against unprofessional nursing conduct. These disciplinary actions include suspension and revocation of licenses.
To get licensed as a nurse practitioner, you have to provide the licensing board with proof that you have the educational and moral capacity to abide by and uphold the ethics of the profession. The Utah State Board of Nursing (USBON) is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). This implies that unlike NP licenses in other states, your Utah NP license is a multi-state license. And so, you can practice with your Utah NP license in other member states without requiring additional approvals.