Become an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner in 3 Steps

Nurse Types / Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

Becoming a nurse practitioner requires dedication to schooling and gaining relevant on-the-job experience. Orthopedic nurse practitioners, like orthopedic doctors and surgeons, focus on diseases and injuries that impact the musculoskeletal system.

They can treat patients with chronic health conditions like arthritis or those with broken or fractured bones. Helping patients regain mobility after injuries or illnesses is another important aspect of the job.

In this article about orthopedic nurse practitioners, we’ll explore:

• What is an orthopedic nurse practitioner?
• What do orthopedic nurse practitioners do?
• Where do orthopedic nurse practitioners work?
• What are specific types of orthopedic nurse practitioners?
• How do you become an orthopedic nurse practitioner in 3 steps?
• What are additional requirements of orthopedic nurse practitioners?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for orthopedic nurse practitioners?
• FAQs

What is an orthopedic nurse practitioner?

The musculoskeletal system can experience genetic abnormalities and deformities, be struck by disease, or sustain traumatic injuries. Orthopedic NPs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who receive specialized training in musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. Some examples of include arthritis, broken bones, and osteoporosis.

Qualities of a successful orthopedic nurse practitioner

Like all nursing professionals, the most successful orthopedic nurse practitioners possess compassion and empathy for their patients. Other qualities you must possess to success in this nursing role include:

• Analytical skills help you think on your feet and find creative solutions to healthcare issues that need an atypical approach.
• Competence in your practice not only ensures better patient outcomes, but it also opens the door to career advancement.
• Communication skills allow you to explain medical conditions and treatments to your patients and their families. You also need them to collaborate with other members of the healthcare team.
• Patience is an asset when working in this fast-paced nursing career because it improves your bedside manner.

What do orthopedic nurse practitioners do?

Orthopedic nurse practitioners care for patients diagnosed with musculoskeletal problems. Arthritis, broken bones, and joint replacements are among the common conditions of their patients.

Your daily tasks as an orthopedic nurse practitioner can vary depending on your employer. Some healthcare employers may require additional responsibilities outside the normal routine for orthopedic NPs.

A day in the life of an orthopedic nurse practitioner

From the minute you clock in for your shift until the last patient you treat for the day, you can expect to engage in any – or all – of the following tasks:

• Assisting orthopedic surgeons during surgical procedures and providing after-care for patients
• Creating pain management routines for patients
• Conducting routine health assessments and physical exams
• Educating patients and their families about orthopedic conditions and treatment options
• Monitoring prescription medications for allergic or other adverse reactions
• Reviewing an orthopedic diagnosis and medical history with patients

Common conditions treated by orthopedic nurse practitioners

Orthopedic nurse practitioners treat conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. Their patients may seek help for:

• Arthritis
• Broken/fractured bones
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Joint replacements
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

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What are specific types of orthopedic nurse practitioners?

Nursing provides a variety of specialties you can pursue, which makes it an interesting career choice. Orthopedic nurse practitioners are no exception. You can choose a specialization based on your interests and skills. Some of the most popular types of orthopedic NPs include:

• Foot and ankle surgery
• Joint reconstruction
• Musculoskeletal birth defects
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Spine surgery
• Sports medicine

Within orthopedic nursing are additional specializations some NPs may pursue. They include:

• Foot and ankle surgery
• Joint reconstruction
• Musculoskeletal birth defects
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Spine surgery
• Sports medicine

Closely related fields

If you like the idea of working with patients with musculoskeletal conditions and injuries but do not want to become an orthopedic NP, you have some options.

Another closely related field using similar skills includes physical therapists. These healthcare professionals work with ill and injured people to help them improve movement and manage pain. Patients who receive joint replacements end up in physical therapy as part of their recovery.

How do you become an orthopedic nurse practitioner in 3 steps?

To become an orthopedic NP, a commitment to extensive education and training is a must. The minimum degree an orthopedic NP must possess is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). There are several other steps involved with becoming a licensed orthopedic NP.

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

Before you can become a nurse practitioner, you must first become a registered nurse (RN). There are several ways you can become an RN. The first step involves choosing the right nursing degree program.

Earn a degree

While you technically can become an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), most healthcare employers have begun giving preference to RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Associate’s degrees take between 18 and 24 months to complete and include the basics you need to get started as an entry-level RN. Bachelor’s degrees are typically 4 years and  include leadership training and other administrative skills, plus the same nursing skills taught in an ADN program.

Eligibility for Orthopedic Nursing Certification from the Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board requires a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes between 18 and 24 months to earn from an accredited program. This is in addition to the BSN degree.

A master’s degree helps you earn higher salaries and better opportunities for advancement in the nursing profession. There are RN-to-MSN programs available, as well as RN-to-DNP.

Orthopedic NP candidates who pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) often choose to work in academic or research settings.

You can choose to pursue your higher education level first or become an RN and continue toward your MSN or DNP while working.

Pass the NCLEX exam

After you earn the nursing degree of your choice, the next step involves passing the NCLEX-RN exam. If you fail the test on your first try, you can retake it after a 45-day waiting period.

Some nurses already hold RN licensure before they decide to advance their career by becoming an orthopedic NP. If you already hold an RN license, you can skip this step.   

Step 2 – Accumulate experience

Once you have your RN licensure, you’ll want to gain some relevant experience before advancing up the career ladder. If you plan to become certified in any specialties, check the requirements. There may be specific mandates for on-the-job hours completed or types of work you need to perform to qualify.

Most orthopedic NP candidates must work at minimum of 2,000 hours in a relevant healthcare environment as an APRN. You can spend 2 to 3 years working in a setting where you can access on-the-job learning.

Helpful skills and experience

Any RN position that gives you an opportunity to work with orthopedic patients – or alongside orthopedic specialists – can help prepare you for independent work as an orthopedic NP.

You could work in a trauma care center that treats patients with broken and fractured bones. Another option is to work at an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation center.

Changing specialty to an orthopedic nurse practitioner

Changing your specialty to an orthopedic nurse practitioner involves a few steps. If you’re already an NP, you must take some continuing education courses focused on orthopedic medicine.

A family nurse practitioner may have the easiest time of all NPs in making the switch because of their broad foundation.

Step 3 – Obtain certifications

The final step is to gain ONP certification. The ONP-C certification exam provided by the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board. The exam is competency-based and provides the certification board with an accurate assessment of a candidate’s knowledge and skills. Orthopedic NP candidates can expect 135 scored questions and 15 unscored questions on the exam.

Specific knowledge of conditions and tasks evaluated on the exam include:

CONDITION/TASK	TOTAL NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
Degenerative Disorders	53
Orthopedic Trauma	24
Sports Injuries	19
Inflammatory Disorders	11
Metabolic Bone Disorders	11
Congenital/Pediatric	8
Musculoskeletal Tumors	4
Neuromuscular	5
Clinician/Practitioner	85-95
Educator	13-23
Manager	3-9
Consultant	11-19
Researcher	3-9

What are additional requirements of orthopedic nurse practitioners?

Depending on the certifications you hold, you may need to complete continuing education credits to maintain your credential. Nursing continuing education units (CEUs) are different for each state so you need to check out the state’s board of nursing site for licensing information.

What are the salary and career outlooks for orthopedic nurse practitioners?

Orthopedic NPs are among some of the highest-paid nurses in the healthcare industry. The annual median orthopedic nurse practitioner salary is $119,200 with a range of $111,400 and $126,800. Some of the top earners in this nursing field make upwards of $133,719 a year.

All specializations of nurse practitioners remain in high demand. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates NPs will experience an expected growth of 40% from 2021 to 2031. 

Job satisfaction

Nurse practitioners rank #1 in Best Health Care Jobs according to a survey by US. News and World Report. Deciding factor for the top spot included a job with low stress levels, good work-life balance, and solid prospects for career advancement.

Next steps

Orthopedic nurse practitioners have plenty of options for career advancement. Among the most popular is to become a DNP. In this role, you can work in academics or research.

You also can pursue opportunities to produce medical content through research and journals geared toward advancing orthopedic NP best practices and patient outcomes.

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FAQs