How to Become an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner (ONP)
Are you fascinated by the musculoskeletal system? Do you love helping patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life? Becoming an orthopedic nurse practitioner (ONP) might be a great career path. As an ONP, you’ll specialize in diagnosing and managing conditions related to bones, joints, and muscles, working closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans.
ONPs are advanced practice nurses (APRNs) and work under an expanded scope of practice. They can diagnose, develop comprehensive care plans, prescribe, and more. Depending on the state, they may be required to work under physician supervision, but in many areas they can practice independently.
Pursuing this career path can lead to opportunities in a range of clinical settings, including the following:
- Orthopedic clinics
- Acute care hospitals
- Rehabilitation centers
- Private practices
- Sports medicine facilities
- Long-term care facilities
- Academic and research institutions
- Home health care
What Is an Orthopedic NP and What Do They Do?
An ONP specializes in the care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. These healthcare professionals play a crucial role in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of orthopedic issues like the following:
- Fractures
- Joint disorders
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Osteoporosis
- Sports injuries
- Spinal disorders
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Degenerative disc disease
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
- Post-surgical healing
Orthopedic NPs collaborate with surgeons, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive care. Depending on where they work, here’s a list of some of the tasks an ONP might perform:
- Comprehensive assessments
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests
- Develop and implement treatment plans
- Perform procedures (i.e., joint injections and castings)
- Provide pre-and postoperative care
- Educate patients and families
- Monitor patient progress
- Participate in research and education
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner: Salary Averages
One of the benefits of pursuing an advanced practice specialty is the potential for higher income. The average ONP in the U.S. makes $125,900 per year. What you make in this role will also be influenced by your location, clinical area, years of experience, and additional credentials you earn.
How to Become an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner: 4 Steps
How long does it take to become an orthopedic nurse practitioner? It depends on the academic path you pursue, but you can expect this path to take six years or more. That’s because you’ll first need to become an RN, then complete advanced practice schooling. Many Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs also require clinical experience before you can apply.
Step 1: Go to Nursing School
The first step in becoming an ONP is to complete a prelicensure nursing program. There are two options if you want to become an RN — an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN is typically required for advanced practice programs, and it takes longer to achieve.
But there are many ways to pursue this career. If you want to become a nurse fast, you could earn your ADN and take a bridge program to earn your BSN while working. Some advanced practice programs are designed to take you from ADN to an MSN. Learn more about your options, and whether an ADN or BSN program is right for you.
Step 2: Earn Your RN License
After graduating from nursing school, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain your RN license. This exam is meant to test your knowledge and critical thinking skills as a new graduate nurse, and once you pass, you can apply to become an RN in your state.
Step 3: Gain Experience
Most advanced practice programs for nurses require at least one to two years of experience before you can apply. This ensures that you earn the baseline practical skills that it takes to care for patients. You might begin your nursing career in an orthopedic residency program in acute care, or work with ortho patients in a post-acute rehabilitation setting.
On the other hand, some direct-entry MSN programs allow committed professionals to earn their RN license and jump straight into their master’s degrees without experience. These programs may be a good fit if you’re certain that this path is the right one for you, and you want to become an advanced practice nurse quickly.
Step 4: Attend an Advanced Practice Nursing Program
Next, you’ll need to attend a master’s or doctoral program to qualify for an advanced practice license. Depending on the school you choose, some MSN departments have orthopedic nurse practitioner school specialty tracks to hone your skills. In other cases, you may want to enroll in a family NP (FNP), geriatric NP (AGNP), or pediatric NP (PNP) program, and pursue specialty experience through your clinical placements or a post-graduate residency program.
Step 5: Gain Your Practice Certification
After completing your advanced practice program, obtain certification as a nurse practitioner in your state. Depending on the type of program you completed and where you live, you’ll need to sit for an exam and apply for state licensure through an NP-certifying organization, which will likely be one of these groups:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Once you’re licensed as an NP, you can begin working as an orthopedic nurse practitioner. You might find nurse practitioner jobs in urgent care, family medicine clinics, acute care, and other areas. Many NPs practice in a general role for a few years before pursuing specialty experience in orthopedics. One of the benefits of becoming an NP is the wide range of job options — employment of NPs is projected to grow by 46% within the next decade.
Once you’ve gained experience with orthopedic patients, consider earning an additional credential such as the Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Certification (ONP-C). This is the only specialty credential for ONPs, and it validates your expertise with musculoskeletal problems. You’ll need at least 2,000 specialty practice hours and three years of experience to apply. Learn more about nurse credentialing.
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