Adobe Media Encoder is an encoding engine released by Adobe to function with programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Audition, Adobe Character Animator, and Adobe Prelude. It is also useful as a standalone encoder. You can encode audio, video, and different formats to suit your social media and professional filmmaking needs. Professional audio and video editors use Adobe Media Encoder to streamline their work. If you are facing issues with Adobe Media Encoder, this guide has some fixes to help you. Let’s see how we can fix the Adobe Media Encoder not installed error in Premiere Pro or After Effects.
Adobe Media Encoder is not installed. Please obtain and install it to use this feature. Go to https://creative.adobe.com/apps
If you see Adobe Media Encoder not installed error message in Premiere Pro or After Effects, here are some suggestions to resolve the issue.
Let’s get into the details of each method and fix the issue.
Adobe products that work interdependently require updated versions to function smoothly. Adobe Media Encoder is used by both Premiere Pro and After Effects to render outputs. You need to update them to the latest versions using the Creative Cloud program. After updating them, restart your PC and see if it has fixed the error.
You need to install Adobe Media Encoder manually using the Adobe Creative Cloud or by downloading it from the Adobe website. Run the downloaded file to install and don’t change the default location of its installation.
If the problem is not yet fixed, you need to uninstall Creative Cloud products like Premiere Pro, After Effects, Adobe Audition, Adobe Character Animator, Adobe Prelude, and Adobe Media Encoder leaving Photoshop and Illustration aside. After uninstalling them, you need to restart your PC and reinstall them from the Creative Cloud. See if it has fixed the error.
Read: Premiere Pro crashing or stops working on Windows
These are the different ways you can use when you see Adobe Media Encoder not installed error on Premiere Pro or After Effects.
If you are seeing Adobe Media Encoder not installed error in After Effects, you need to install Adobe Media Encoder using the Adobe Creative Cloud or by downloading the executable file from the Adobe website. If you’ve already installed the Adobe Media Encoder and still facing the error, you need to update After Effects and Adobe Media Encoder using the Creative Cloud to the latest versions or reinstall them if none of the other methods fixed it.
If Premiere Pro and Adobe Media Encoder are not the latest versions, you might see this error. You need to update them to the latest versions using Creative Cloud. Uninstall both programs and reinstall them, if updating them does not fix the issue.
Related read: Fix Error Code 3, Error compiling movie, Export error on Premiere Pro.
The best Adobe Acrobat alternatives offer advanced PDF editing capabilities that rival the best PDF editor.
Adobe Acrobat DC has long been the go-to PDF editing software - for the very good reason that Adobe invented the PDF format. The filetype allowed true document standardization. No matter what device you viewed the file, it would appear the same to all users.
Today, there are plenty of premium and free PDF editors offering many of the same useful tools and features you’ll find in Adobe’s premiere PDF editing tool, including eSign software and OCR software. So, you’re looking to Improve efficiency, productivity, and faster workflows without taking out a Creative Cloud subscription, finding the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat is essential.
To help you identify the right tools, we’ve tested, reviewed, and rated the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives to see where the competition matches, thrashes, and misses Acrobat’s power.
Do more with your documents -with the best PDF merger tools, best PDF compressors, and the best free PDF to Word converters.
Foxit PDF Editor is a stellar substitute for Adobe Acrobat. Like Adobe, Foxit has been offering PDF tools for decades, and users can take confidence from the many high-profile endorsements proudly listed on the Foxit site, with the likes of Amazon, Google, Dell, and Intel among them.
The company's best Adobe Acrobat alternative, Foxit PDF Editor, offers dozens of useful features. This includes watermarking, adding headers and footers, tailoring password permissions, creating templates, and converting other documents to PDFs. One neat feature is being able to drag files of other formats - such as converting Excel to PDF or using the PowerPoint to PDF converter.
In our Foxit PDF Editor review, we felt it might not offer enough value to casual users, but the multi-platform PDF editor app was great for businesses who regularly need to manipulate, edit, redact, annotate, and alter PDF documents.
Indeed, the redaction tools were a special highlight for us. We were impressed with how easily they worked, thoroughly scrubbing sensitive data from documents .The feature is a boon for compliant-conscious teams who understand the importance of adhering to global data laws.
Pricing for Foxit PDF Editor is flexible, with monthly and yearly subscriptions. If on-going payments are one of the reasons you’re looking for the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives, there’s the opportunity to pick up a perpetual license for a one-off purchase.
You’ll also find two upgraded versions of the PDF editing software - Pro and Pro + - which add additional features for power-users.
Read our full Foxit PDF Editor review.
PDF24 Creator isn’t just one of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives for Windows - it’s also our top pick for best free PDF editor overall.
Despite the no-cost approach, the tool - a PC-only desktop app that works offline and is ideal for low-spec PCs - is surprisingly feature-rich.
During our time with the software, we rated it as “one of the best examples of free tools that go above and beyond. It’s packed full of features, and comes with everything you might need to create and edit a PDF document.”
Tools for PDF creation, compressing, merging, and converting are all present and results are grand. Extras like OCR and eSign are well-implemented. The interface is clean and fresh and emphasizes productivity - you can quickly find what you need and what to do.
We even felt it bested Adobe in one area. Praising Acrobat for its inclusion of tools for almost use-cases, we noted, “the only exception is if you need something more advanced for filling out forms, in which case an editor like PDF24 Creator or PDFZilla could work better, despite looking a bit clunkier.”
PDF24 Creator is available free and unlimited. The experience might not quite match Adobe’s fluid workflow, but it’s a price you can’t beat.
Read our full PDF24 Creator review.
Nitro PDF Pro is probably the best Acrobat alternative for those who absolutely, positively want to avoid subscriptions at all costs. You won’t find any on-going payment plans with this PDF editor. Just a one-off perpetual license.
When we tried out the product, we found it featured an impressive toolkit that compares favorably with Adobe Acrobat. The interface and experience make using the software incredibly simple and easy - a factor the sometimes overwhelming Acrobat struggles to boast.
Other tools to let you make changes to existing PDF documents, and even create one from scratch. You have a lot of tools at your disposal, including various ways to make annotations, leaving instructions for colleagues to follow.
Editing the actual content of an already existing PDF isn’t as seamless as we’d like it to be, and that’s probably the weakest tool in Nitro’s arsenal. Everything else is very well implemented, and we especially liked how the ability to convert files to and from PDFs is performed.
Ultimately, we found this Adobe Acrobat alternative “a good PDF editing software package that allows you to make changes to documents, annotate them, and perform numerous alterations on them. It also comes with a good OCR, conversion tools.”
This PDF editing software is capable of running on a PC or a Mac, and costs $180 per license. Volume licensing for businesses is also available.
Read our full Nitro PDF Pro review.
EaseUS PDF Editor is the ideal choice if you’re on a PC - it’s one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for Windows.
Unlike many of the best Acrobat alternatives, EaseUS has a free, but limited version available alongside the Pro version. This works great in a pinch, but it restricted in many ways - not least adding a watermark to your documents. The Pro version opens up the software, however.
In our review, we described EaseUS’ offering as “a powerful, PC-only PDF editing software tool that allows you to manipulate and alter documents with relative ease. It also comes with more standard features, such as a converter, and has good OCR capabilities.” Elsewhere, you’ll find outstanding PDF converter tools and eSignature tools.
The program is impressively kitted out for PDF editing, splitting pages into boxes that can be moved and resized. Content can also be changed, such as altering the font, color, and the text itself.
And it’s all housed within a refreshingly clean user interface. This makes navigating the tool an absolute breeze - not dissimilar to the excellent user experience offered in Adobe Acrobat, with its focus on maximizing productivity.
Costs for EaseUS PDF editor vary, with monthly and annual subscriptions and a one-time-buy ‘lifetime upgrade’ option. It’s ‘one license for one computer’. Bundles are available.
Read our full EaseUS PDF Editor review.
If you’re looking for the best Adobe Acrobat alternative for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, look no further than Readdle PDF Expert.
While modern Apple machines come preinstalled with the excellent Apple Preview - a tool we felt “should be able to cater to all but the most demanding PDF road warriors” - it’s more of a PDF reader and manipulator, rather than a full PDF editor, like Acrobat.
PDF Expert is much more fully featured, making it a much better alternative to Acrobat. Alongside image and text editing, Readdle’s product also comes kitted out with converter tools for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OCR and eSign tools.
When we tested out the software, we were impressed to find it “has lots of useful features for people who use PDF files on a regular basis. It has a very clean UI design and everything is neatly organized so you don’t need a lot of help in understanding how the software works when you use it for the first time.” We also loved how well PDF Expert synced documents on all Apple devices.
A wide range of editing tools include the ability to highlight parts of the PDF and add notes, redact sensitive information, extract or rearrange pages, and merge documents. Being able to draw directly onto the PDF is also useful for those who are using the software on iPad and have an Apple Pencil.
The sleek interface and a well-organized toolbar make it simple and intuitive for new users to accomplish everyday PDF editing tasks. In short, PDF Expert makes you feel like a PDF expert.
Pricing is via an annual subscription or a perpetual license - however, only the yearly fee offers use across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Read our full Readdle PDF Expert review.
PDF Architect, from pdfforge, offers a range of PDF packages that rival Adobe Acrobat. The free plan includes basic PDF creation for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint docs, and the ability to merge, move, and delete pages and files.
More advanced features rest in the Standard, Professional, and Pro + OCR plans. These open up necessary editing, converting, collaboration tools, and more. When we took a look at PDF Architect, we awarded it 4 stars, calling it “a great choice for those who need a reliable, advanced PDF editor with lots of extra features and a stable, reliable interface.”
We appreciated the excellent interface, which will be familiar to anyone used to Microsoft Office software, and the extensive toolkit - praising the developers for “researching the market and identifying underserved niches.” Best of all, with minimal system requirements, PDF Architect is one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for low-end, low-spec computers.
However, there are limitations, even beyond the free version. eSignatures, for example, require a separate module in the PDF editor. For that reason, we recommend a free trial to get a feel for what you can and can’t do, to see if it fits your current workflow.
Read our full pdfforge PDF Architect review.
For those with a need to edit PDFs online and on a budget, Sejda offers a tool that might just be the best free Acrobat alternative online.
It’s available as a desktop version that saves files locally to your computer or an online version that uses cloud storage. But watch out for restrictions in the free version. You can only perform three tasks per day, you can only work on one document at a time, and file sizes cannot exceed 200 pages or 50MB.
One of Sejda’s real highlights is its security process. All files uploaded to the server are automatically deleted after two hours. Ideal, then, for businesses with a focus on data protection and compliance.
The tool isn’t without its faults, though. We found in-document text editing to be fairly basic, meaning you might encounter some issues replicating a typeface if the original PDF features a unique or unusual font. But as a useful Adobe Acrobat alternative for infrequent PDF editing, Sejda offers an excellent no-cost or low-cost option.
As we noted when we reviewed the software, it’s “a convincingly powerful PDF editor, but you'll need to pay if you need to use it a lot.”
Pricing comes in the form of a weekly and monthly subscriptions for the web app, or an annual desktop and web app subscription. Team and volume licensing is available.
Read our full Sejda review.
Why you can trust TechRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
When deciding which Adobe Acrobat alternative is best for you, you first need to consider how you will be working with PDF files.
Modern operating systems and browsers can open PDFs without additional software, meaning this is all you need if you only want to view the files.
You can make basic edits using a PDF reader, many of which are available as free versions.
If you need to make more in-depth edits, batch process files, or convert between file types, then a fully-fledged PDF editor is the best choice for you.
PDF is an acronym for Portable Document Format. The filetype was invented by Adobe and designed to look identical across different devices and screens - so, it retains consistency and maintains accuracy without formatting issues. However, because it’s standardized, it also means it can’t be edited without the use of a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat.
Adobe Acrobat is a PDF editor for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Unlike PDF readers, lets users create, edit, and annotate PDF documents that can easily be shared and viewed by others. It’s often considered the industry standard in PDF editing software. Not only did the company design the PDF format, but also introduced a range of tools so businesses can easily build and modify documents
The best Adobe Acrobat alternatives deliver similarly effortless interfaces and experiences for PDF editing - without the need for a Creative Cloud subscription. Although Acrobat remains the obvious choice for editing PDFs, and is often considered the industry standard PDF editor, it might not fit your overall workflow, meet your needs, or your budget. This is especially true if you’re not a power-user; if you’re not a PDF power-user, alternatives may meet your needs better.
To test the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives, we downloaded and installed each piece of software to provide you a first-hand opinion.
Our research looked at operating system compatibility, system requirements, and real-world performance when working with large files.
We explored each program's features, noting any significant additions and omissions compared to Adobe Acrobat.
We also investigated the price, payment models, and free versions (where available) for each Adobe Acrobat alternative. Finally, we looked at the support services and documentation offered by each developer as we feel it's a key part of the overall user experience.
See how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
Looking for cost-effective alternatives? We've rounded up the best free office software
Adobe Acrobat is a professional PDF editing and viewing program developed by Adobe. They have been in the market for many years which a huge user base around the world. You can view, create, edit, print, and manage PDFs using Adobe Acrobat. To use Adobe Acrobat, you need to subscribe to it by paying monthly or annually. You can only get Acrobat Reader DC as freeware. Some users of Adobe Acrobat are seeing a blank screen while they try to save PDF files. In this guide, we have a few solutions to fix when Adobe Acrobat Save As screen is blank.
If you see a white blank screen when you try to use Save As option on Adobe Acrobat, the following methods can help you fix it.
Let’s get into the details of each method and fix the issue.
Adobe Acrobat works on the cloud as well as locally. If you are working on documents from the cloud and see a white blank screen, you need to check your internet connection. If there is any issue with the internet connection, it will not load. Then, you will see only a white blank screen. Run a speed test using the online tools and see if your internet connection is working fine.
Read: Fix Network & Internet connection problems in Windows
The error might also have been caused by a bug in the previous update or a corrupted file. You need to update Adobe Acrobat to the latest version to fix it. Use the Help option in the Adobe Acrobat menu and select Check for Updates to find new updates and install them.
Read: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC not showing bookmarks in Windows PC
Since you are working on a cloud-based program, you need to disable Show online storage when saving the files options if you don’t want to save them online. You can enable or disable it at any time you want. It will fix the Save as blank screen issue on Adobe Acrobat.
To disable Show online storage when saving the files,
This should fix Save As blanks screen issue on Adobe Acrobat.
If none of the above methods can fix the issue, you need to reinstall Adobe Acrobat. For that, you need to uninstall the program using the Start menu or from the Installed apps in the Settings app. Then, obtain Adobe Acrobat from Adobe and install it on your PC.
These are the different ways using which you can use when you see Adobe Acrobat Save as screen blank.
Read: Fix Adobe CEF Helper High Memory or CPU usage
Adobe works on the cloud as well as locally. When the files you are working on are from the cloud and you have a bad internet connection, you might see a screen blank. The bugs in the previous updates can also cause it. You need to check the internet connection, disable online file options in the Preferences, and update Adobe Acrobat to the latest version to fix the issue.
Make sure your internet is working fine and see if the file is from a local disk or from the cloud. Then, go to Preferences from the Edit menu and change the storage settings. Disable Show online storage when saving the files in the preferences to save them locally.
If your PDF is saved as blank, there might be corruption occurring with the file. The plugins of the software you are using to save PDFs might be causing it, or the file is not saved fully due to a bad internet connection. You need to see if they are working fine and save the PDF again.
Related read: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC has stopped working in Windows.
By Katie Lobosco, CNN
President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program remains blocked by federal courts for now. But for some borrowers, the recently extended federal pandemic pause on payments delivers an even bigger benefit.
For most federal student loan borrowers, balances have been frozen since March 2020. But those who are enrolled in the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness program get an extra, lesser-known bonus from the pause that brings them closer to student debt cancellation without paying a dime.
For Josie Bicknell, a nurse practitioner at a nonprofit in Los Angeles, the pause could deliver roughly $38,000 in debt relief — much more than the $10,000 she would likely receive if Biden’s forgiveness program takes effect.
“I just keep my head down and pray for more extensions because that’s the best scenario for us,” Bicknell, 35, said.
The pause has been extended eight times, the latest of which was last month when Biden pushed back the restart date from January until after pending litigation over his student loan forgiveness program is resolved — or the end of August, whichever comes first. The administration’s goal is to be able to cancel some student debt before payments restart.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments in a case in February, with a decision expected by June.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels all outstanding student debt — regardless of how much there is — for qualifying public sector workers after they make 120 monthly payments on their loans, which would take at least 10 years.
During the pause, these borrowers aren’t required to make payments just like everyone else — yet they still receive credit toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program as though they did make the payments, as long as all other qualifications are met.
Put another way, PSLF borrowers have received credit for nearly 33 months so far without making any payments.
Bicknell estimates she would have been paying at least $1,150 a month since March 2020 if the pause was not in place — which would have totaled nearly $38,000.
Instead, Bicknell has used that money to pay for child care and to save for a future home. She and her husband also moved their children to a more family-friendly community where the rent is higher.
By the time the pandemic hit, Bicknell had made about six years of payments on her student debt, paying off nearly $110,000. Despite those payments, her balance is nearly just as much as what she originally borrowed due to interest. She expects to be eligible for debt cancellation from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in January 2024 — when the remaining debt, worth more than $100,000, will be wiped away.
There are roughly 1.6 million people pursuing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, according to a government estimate from October.
Borrowers must be employed full time by a qualifying nonprofit or the government while making payments in order to benefit from the program.
Many teachers, social workers and first responders, as well as some doctors and lawyers, may qualify, for example.
Borrowers must also be enrolled in a federal income-driven repayment plan, which ties monthly payments to a borrower’s income and family size. Generally, the more net income a borrower has, the bigger the monthly loan payment.
Lauren McClain, who teaches political science and government at a community college in Texas, has been working in the public sector and making payments on her student loans since 2014. She has about $151,000 of student debt remaining and expects to be granted forgiveness under the PSLF program in 2024.
She estimates she’s saved nearly $20,000 thanks to the pause, while Biden’s forgiveness program wouldn’t have actually helped her financially.
“$10,000 in forgiveness wouldn’t make a difference for me because it doesn’t make my payments lower,” McClain said.
“Whenever there’s even a rumor of the pause being extended, I get really excited. It’s made such a huge difference for us,” she added.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Black Friday offers are still running, and there are big savings available Adobe Creative Cloud’s Photography Plan, which is normally priced at £119.99, has now gone down to £72 for a year’s subscription on Amazon UK. This includes 20GB storage plus access to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Lightroom Mobile.
You can also stack up this offer, so buy two and it will last 24 months! Click here for Adobe Creative Cloud’s Photography Plan on Amazon UK.
This follows Adobe Creative Cloud’s other Black Friday deals, offering all Adobe Creative Cloud apps for £30.34 a month for a whole year. Students and teachers get an extra 18% discount and get all the Adobe Creative Cloud apps for £13.15 a month for a whole year.
Check out our picks of the best Black Friday deals on Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions and photography accessories.
Best Black Friday deals on accessories
Best Black Friday photography book deals
Best Black Friday deals on Lenses
Best Black Friday deals on cameras
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By Katie Lobosco, CNN
President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program remains blocked by federal courts for now. But for some borrowers, the recently extended federal pandemic pause on payments delivers an even bigger benefit.
For most federal student loan borrowers, balances have been frozen since March 2020. But those who are enrolled in the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness program get an extra, lesser-known bonus from the pause that brings them closer to student debt cancellation without paying a dime.
For Josie Bicknell, a nurse practitioner at a nonprofit in Los Angeles, the pause could deliver roughly $38,000 in debt relief — much more than the $10,000 she would likely receive if Biden’s forgiveness program takes effect.
“I just keep my head down and pray for more extensions because that’s the best scenario for us,” Bicknell, 35, said.
The pause has been extended eight times, the latest of which was last month when Biden pushed back the restart date from January until after pending litigation over his student loan forgiveness program is resolved — or the end of August, whichever comes first. The administration’s goal is to be able to cancel some student debt before payments restart.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments in a case in February, with a decision expected by June.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels all outstanding student debt — regardless of how much there is — for qualifying public sector workers after they make 120 monthly payments on their loans, which would take at least 10 years.
During the pause, these borrowers aren’t required to make payments just like everyone else — yet they still receive credit toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program as though they did make the payments, as long as all other qualifications are met.
Put another way, PSLF borrowers have received credit for nearly 33 months so far without making any payments.
Bicknell estimates she would have been paying at least $1,150 a month since March 2020 if the pause was not in place — which would have totaled nearly $38,000.
Instead, Bicknell has used that money to pay for child care and to save for a future home. She and her husband also moved their children to a more family-friendly community where the rent is higher.
By the time the pandemic hit, Bicknell had made about six years of payments on her student debt, paying off nearly $110,000. Despite those payments, her balance is nearly just as much as what she originally borrowed due to interest. She expects to be eligible for debt cancellation from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in January 2024 — when the remaining debt, worth more than $100,000, will be wiped away.
There are roughly 1.6 million people pursuing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, according to a government estimate from October.
Borrowers must be employed full time by a qualifying nonprofit or the government while making payments in order to benefit from the program.
Many teachers, social workers and first responders, as well as some doctors and lawyers, may qualify, for example.
Borrowers must also be enrolled in a federal income-driven repayment plan, which ties monthly payments to a borrower’s income and family size. Generally, the more net income a borrower has, the bigger the monthly loan payment.
Lauren McClain, who teaches political science and government at a community college in Texas, has been working in the public sector and making payments on her student loans since 2014. She has about $151,000 of student debt remaining and expects to be granted forgiveness under the PSLF program in 2024.
She estimates she’s saved nearly $20,000 thanks to the pause, while Biden’s forgiveness program wouldn’t have actually helped her financially.
“$10,000 in forgiveness wouldn’t make a difference for me because it doesn’t make my payments lower,” McClain said.
“Whenever there’s even a rumor of the pause being extended, I get really excited. It’s made such a huge difference for us,” she added.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
If you want a rewarding career in the healthcare sector without spending a decade of your life training to become a doctor, you might consider working as a nurse practitioner (NP). These advanced practice nurses are primary care providers whose career path is significantly shorter and less expensive than that of a doctor.
Our guide explores how to become a nurse practitioner, including education, licensure and potential specialty areas.
What is a nurse practitioner? NPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide healthcare services to specific patient demographics.
NPs provide primary care to their patients. They analyze patients’ medical histories and order, conduct and assess diagnostic tests. They typically work with healthcare teams to create treatment plans and offer follow-up care.
Due to their advanced education and training, many NPs can work independently and write prescriptions. Nurse practitioners can also perform medical procedures like debridement, putting casts on injuries and intubation. Other NP responsibilities may include the following:
A nurse practitioner can work in any healthcare organization, including physician’s offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, educational facilities and nursing homes.
Some NPs work in home health as well, providing treatment or follow-up care in patients’ homes. They may also participate in rural outreach programs, traveling and offering services in areas with limited access to healthcare.
Nurse practitioners often work in shifts in healthcare facilities where patients need round-the-clock care. In physician’s offices, NPs tend to work typical business hours.
NPs do a lot to Improve the lives of community residents. By acting as counselors and educators, NPs guide patients to live healthier lives, thus reducing the cost of healthcare. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), patients who see NPs as their primary healthcare providers tend to have lower medication costs, shorter hospital stints and fewer visits to the emergency room.
NPs also approach patient care more holistically. Asides from targeting the physical problem, NPs listen for signs of mental distress and guide patients through recovery. NPs’ approach to patient management improves patient satisfaction.
A bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) is the preferred academic qualification to start a career as a registered nurse (RN). A bachelor’s degree is also required for admission to a graduate-level nursing program.
Full-time students typically take four years to complete a BSN degree. However, it’s a longer process for part-time students.
Once you earn a BSN, the next step is becoming an RN. This process requires passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
It’s quite common for aspiring nurse practitioners to work as RNs before moving forward in their careers. However, nursing experience is not required to proceed to the next stage.
A master of science in nursing (MSN) degree is the minimum academic qualification for NPs. An MSN program advances your clinical knowledge and patient management skills.
It’s best to choose your specialty area before enrolling in a master’s in nursing program so you can focus your studies accordingly.
A doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program equips APRNs for leadership in clinical settings. A DNP degree is the highest academic qualification a nurse practitioner can possess.
Though this degree is not a prerequisite for working as an NP, those who want to increase their earning potential and have more influence over healthcare policies may consider earning one.
After graduation, you must sit for and pass a national board certification test specific to your chosen focus area. In most states, NPs are not permitted to practice until they pass a certification exam.
There are numerous organizations that administer NP certification exams. The test you take depends on your chosen specialty area.
In most states, APRNs—including NPs—are required to hold state licensure. Once you obtain NP certification, you may apply for licensure in the state where you plan to practice.
Acute care NPs handle urgent medical crises and care for people with chronic illnesses. These providers may work in emergency departments, intensive care units, cardiology units, coronary care and surgical wards.
NPs in this specialty offer medical support to patients between late adolescence and full-fledged adulthood. These NPs mostly offer primary care, which involves administering physical exams, diagnosing illnesses, creating treatment plans and educating patients about their health conditions.
A family nurse practitioner provides comprehensive healthcare to individuals and families. Their expertise is not restricted to any age group, which makes this specialty one of the most flexible for NPs. Family nurse practitioners mostly focus on preventive care, but they also treat common illnesses and monitor patients’ health over time.
Gerontology nurse practitioners care for older populations. They help manage chronic illnesses, stabilize patients during acute episodes, analyze health records and help patients make lifestyle changes as they grow older. NPs in this specialty can work in emergency rooms, hospitals, physician’s offices, hospice centers and retirement homes.
A neonatal nurse practitioner cares for sick and premature newborns. Their scope of practice spans various settings, including neonatal intensive care units, outpatient settings, private practices, hospitals and community clinics.
NPs in this specialty treat and care for patients living with cancer. They collaborate with oncologists to develop treatment plans specific to each patient’s condition. These NPs order diagnostic tests, oversee infusion therapy, monitor patient recovery and refer patients to other specialists.
Pediatric nurse practitioners treat children and young adolescents in acute and primary care settings. They conduct checkups, offer immunizations, treat injuries and educate their patients on disease prevention.
Psychiatric NPs work in the mental health field. They diagnose mental illnesses, develop treatment plans and monitor patients’ progress over time.
This specialty involves the reproductive and sexual health of women of all ages. Women’s health NPs offer wellness advice to adolescent girls and older women approaching menopause. They also treat infections that are unique to women.
The specialties listed above are relatively broad focus areas. As an NP, you can narrow your focus even further to specific body parts and functions instead of population groups. Potential sub-specialties to consider include dermatology, immunology, hematology, neurology, urology, occupational health and gastroenterology.
AANPCB administers certification examinations for family, adult-gerontology and emergency nurse practitioners. Before you can apply for any certification, you must create an account on the board’s official site to become a member.
Nurse practitioners can choose from four certifications administered by the ANCC. Offerings include:
PNCB offers two certifications that validate NPs’ critical thinking skills and understanding of children’s health. Offerings include:
How much does a nurse practitioner make? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual wage for NPs is $120,680. However, NP salaries vary based on location and work environment.
The five top-paying U.S. states for nurse practitioners, and NPs’ average annual salaries in each state, are as follows.
Recent data from AANP reports over 355,000 licensed NPs in the U.S., and according to the BLS, this number is expected to grow significantly.
The BLS projects a 46% employment growth rate for NPs from 2021 to 2031. This growth rate is more than nine times faster than the projected job growth rate for all occupations nationwide.
At a minimum, it takes six years to complete the bachelor’s and master’s degrees required to become an NP. Aspiring NPs who study part time or work as RNs before pursuing more advanced credentials may need more time.
For many, yes. The process of becoming a nurse practitioner can be daunting, but NPs earn high median annual wages ($120,680) and have an exceptionally strong job outlook.
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Consumers spent a record $9.12 billion online shopping during Black Friday this year, according to Adobe, which tracks sales on retailers' websites.
Overall online sales for the day after Thanksgiving were up 2.3% year over year, and electronics were a major contributor, as online sales surged 221% over an average day in October, Adobe said. Toys were another popular category for shoppers, up 285%, as was exercise equipment, up 218%.
Many consumers embraced flexible payment plans on Black Friday as they continue to grapple with high prices and inflation. Buy Now Pay Later payments increased by 78% compared with the past week, beginning Nov. 19, and Buy Now Pay Later revenue is up 81% for the same period.
A fast moving conveyor moves packages to delivery trucks during operations on Cyber Monday at Amazon's fulfillment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey, November 29, 2021.
Mike Segar | Reuters
Some of this year's hottest items included gaming consoles, drones, Apple MacBooks, Dyson products and toys like Fortnite, Roblox, Bluey, Funko Pop! and Disney Encanto, according to the report.
Black Friday shoppers also broke a record for mobile orders, as 48% of online sales were made on smartphones, an increase from 44% last year.
The record-breaking spending comes on the heels of a strong day of Thanksgiving shopping, in which consumers shelled out an all-time high of $5.29 billion online, up 2.9% year-over-year. Typically, shoppers spend about $2 billion to $3 billion online in a day, according to Adobe.
For retailers, these numbers may be a promising indicator of the coming weeks. Early holiday forecasts have been muted, and Target, Macy's, Nordstrom and other retailers reported a lull in sales in late October and early November. Consumer sentiment has also weakened in the past month as inflation hovers near four-decade highs.
Though Black Friday is over, e-commerce activity will remain strong through the weekend, according to Adobe's report. Adobe expects consumers to spend $4.52 billion on Saturday and $4.99 billion on Sunday, ahead of the year's biggest online shopping day, Cyber Monday.
This year, Cyber Monday is expected to drive $11.2 billion in spending, up 5.1% year-over-year, according to Adobe.
Select's editors are curating Cyber Monday deals from tech to home and kitchen and more.
From day one, I leave every medical appointment wanting to be friends with her. We just seem to have a compatible energy and sort of “click.” At my most exact pre-op appointment, she greeted me with a huge smile and a very enthusiastic, “I’m SO glad you’re finally able to have this surgery! I’m SO happy for you!”
I have no idea if this is just her typical “bedside manner,” but I was quite touched. I have a good group of girlfriends, and I deeply value friendship as one of life’s great joys. If Rebecca were not my doctor, I would invite her to coffee, and be open to either making a new friend — or not.
But given the boundaries of this relationship, is there any way to figure out if we could be friends, or if this is just how she is with all her patients? And ethically, CAN a doctor and patient become friends?
If so, it would be worth switching to a different provider in the practice, but I don’t want to make that switch for nothing.
Checked: The most “appropriate” and ethical stance is for everyone to stay in their boxes; “Rebecca” remaining your excellent and humane health-care provider, and you remaining her grateful patient.
The warm personal rapport you two share enhances your medical care: You feel comfortable and communicate well — she obviously listens, remembers details about your life, and cares about you.
Despite the standard of maintaining boundaries, practitioners and patients do step out of these boxes because they are human beings and sometimes human beings just click. The OB who delivers the premature baby becomes a family friend; the oncology nurse administering chemo connects with a survivor.
Making a bid for friendship with your health-care provider is somewhat risky because doing so might shift the dynamic between you. If you want to take a stab at friendship outside the office, do not ask her for coffee (that’s a little too intimate). Contact her via email (not through the patient portal), and invite her to a group event along with other friends — a fundraiser, hike, or performance.
She can then accept or demur based on her own comfort level, and your professional rapport will be preserved.
Dear Amy: My mother-in-law and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything, but we are cordial and appreciate one another. As the grandkids have gotten older and there is less of a reason to communicate, I find I am unsure when or if to call her.
When I have called in the past to chat, she seems happy to talk to me, but she never calls me. I feel like I should assume if she never calls me, she must not want to talk to me. In fact, once when she was going through a tough time, she actually told me that I didn’t “need” to call her.
However, she lives alone and is getting older, and I occasionally wonder how she is doing. I do remind my husband to call from time to time, and he does.
We see her in-person once every month or two, and she has other family members and friends who live closer and see her more frequently.
Caller: I think these calls you make are important — even if you always initiate. As she gets older, they will be vital ways to check in.
Your mother-in-law may be shy, or a little intimidated. Some people have an actual aversion to making telephone calls — it’s a sort of inertia that can be hard to overcome. From what you write, it seems that she also doesn’t call her son. Keep it up; it’s the right thing to do.
Dear Amy: “Concerned in Suburban Chicagoland” wrote that her 13-year-old daughter burst out laughing and left the room when these parents told her that they were divorcing.
I thought I was the only teen who laughed at the worst possible moment. When my folks dramatically told me my grandmother died, I burst out laughing.
A short time later I realized that this weird response was mainly because I was overwhelmed. I still miss Nana.
Missing: Laughing in response to loss seems strange, but it does happen.
©2022 by Amy Dickinson distributed by Tribune Content Agency
