Launching Rewarding Careers for Nurse Practitioners

As healthcare evolves, one constant remains: the trusted presence of nurse practitioners in communities across the United States. National Nurse Practitioner Week, celebrated annually during the second week of November, honors these healthcare professionals who help millions of people lead healthier lives.

“Nurse practitioners play a vital role in improving community health,” said Glenda Kelman, Ph.D., RN, ACNP-BC, professor and chair of nursing at Russell Sage College, which offers the only nurse practitioner programs in New York’s Capital Region. “I am proud that Sage prepares NPs to meet New York state’s growing healthcare needs and that our faculty, students, and alumni are making a real difference in the community.”

Nurse practitioners are board-certified, clinically trained health professionals who complete rigorous education and certification requirements. They are primary care providers who can order and interpret tests, diagnose illnesses, create treatment plans, and prescribe medication. 

The profession is among the fastest-growing in the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks nurse practitioners third among the 20 fastest-growing occupations, with opportunities expected to increase by 40% through 2033. U.S. News & World Report has named nurse practitioner as the No. 1 job for the last two years, citing a “strong combination of robust job growth, high pay and upward mobility.”

Russell Sage prepares aspiring nurse practitioners to meet this growing demand. The college enrolls more than 200 students in nursing master’s, post-master’s certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and graduates an average of 55 nurse practitioners each year, supplying highly-qualified professionals to the Capital Region’s healthcare workforce.  

Mirabelle Beck completed a Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Russell Sage in 2013.

After building a robust clinical foundation across specialties — including medical-surgical, cardiology, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, emergency medicine, urgent care, triage, long-term care, and community-based health — Beck opened Elle NP in Family Health in Saratoga in 2019, becoming the first African American female nurse practitioner to open a private practice in the Capital Region. She described Elle NP as “a clinical mission and a personal triumph, allowing me to provide timely, comprehensive, and patient-centered care.” 

Now, Beck has returned to Russell Sage as part of its first Doctor of Nursing Practice cohort.   Nurses can become NPs through a variety of paths; some earn a master’s degree first, like Beck, while others pursue a DNP — the highest level of academic preparation for nursing practice — directly from a bachelor’s program. While a DNP is not currently required for nurse practitioner licensure, it may become a prerequisite for board certification and licensure for advanced practice nurses in the future. Beck sees the degree as an opportunity to expand her leadership, research, and systems-level skills.

“I am particularly interested in applying implementation science and quality improvement strategies to primary care delivery, with a focus on chronic disease management, care access, and cultural competence,” she said.

Her doctoral research focuses on congestive heart failure readmission in older adults  — “a chronic condition that affects millions of Americans and contributes significantly to healthcare costs.” She added, “I also hope to mentor emerging nurse leaders and collaborate on health policy initiatives that reflect the realities of frontline care.”

Beck’s experience reflects the broad opportunities within the field: as the demand for nurse practitioners grows, individuals with the right education can advance their own careers while making a meaningful impact on the wider community. 

Published in recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, this story celebrates the nurse practitioners and aspiring nurse practitioners among the students, faculty, and graduates of Russell Sage College,  who are improving lives through their work and education.