Demand for Nurse Practitioners
If there was ever a prime time to become a nurse practitioner, it’s now. As registered nurses (RNs) who have attended a nurse practitioner program and obtained their master’s in nursing degree and are trained to diagnose and manage common medical conditions, nurse practitioners (NPs) fulfill a pivotal role in the healthcare industry. While more and more physicians shift their focuses towards specialized practices instead of primary care and patient loads increase, there is both a shortage in available health care and a demand for nurse practitioners that can supply their highly specialized skills to our society.
But what makes NPs so special that they’re the ones who best fill these needs? For starters, nurse practitioners are more highly educated and able to perform more procedures today than any time in the last four decades.
They’re able to make a difference in the lives of others, and as the industry moves more towards a system concentrated on promoting health and wellness, the philosophy of the nurse practitioner is a vital asset to any hospital, doctor’s office, nursing home, school, or health center.
Nurse Practitioners are Everywhere
One of the primary perks of becoming a nurse practitioner is that you’ll have the ability to choose from quite a large selection of professional settings when it comes to deciding what area you’d like to work in. Here are just some of the work environments where Nurse Practitioners can be found:
- Public health departments
- Community clinics and health centers
- Health departmentsNursing homes
- Physician offices
- Nursing schools Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Home health care agenciesSchool/college clinics
- Hospitals and hospital clinics
- Hospice centers
- Nurse practitioner offices
- Private offices
- Veterans
- Administration facilities
- Walk-in clinics
Tasks and Job Responsibilities of Nurse Practitioners
So now that you’re aware of the variety of environments that NPs can be found in, you may be wondering what it is that nurse practitioners actually do. Here are just some of the tasks and responsibilities that nurse practitioners lend their talents to on a daily basis:
- Take patient’s history
- Administer physical exams
- Counsel and educate patients
- Give prescriptions and coordinate referrals
- Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic studies like lab tests, x-rays, and EKGs
- Diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic diseases
- Order appropriate laboratory tests and procedures
- Diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic diseases
- Provide prescriptions and coordinate referrals
- Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic studies like lab tests, x-rays, and EKGs
- Provide prenatal care and family planning services
- Provide well-child care, including screening and immunizations
- Provide health maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
With the high demand for NPs and the great set of skills that they bring to the table, nurse practitioners enjoy a fairly lucrative salary PayScale.com shows that the average annual full-time salary for a nurse practitioner ranges anywhere between $68,000 to $90,000; but NPs are able to earn even more in an independent practice setting.
Of course, education and salary correlate in a huge way in the healthcare industry. As NPs further their education and add more knowledge and skills to their professional resume, they are able to command even higher salaries from employers. This explains why enrollment in nurse practitioner schools has continued to rise over the past few years.
Choose Your Nurse Practitioner Career Path
Another great aspect of a career as a nurse practitioner is that you’ll be able to pick from a variety of specialty areas to work in, including:
- Acute Care
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Nurse Practitioner
- College Health
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Gerontology or Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
- Community or Public Health Nurse Practitioner
- Dermatology
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Holistic Health Nurse
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- School Nurse
Move Towards Your Future as a Nurse Practitioner
The nurse practitioner position represents what almost everyone wants out of a job; it’s a well-respected title, it allows you to earn a comfortable wage and you get to make a difference in the lives of others every day. With rising job opportunities, now is the best time to dive into this world and take the steps towards starting your dream career Now is the time – find the nurse practitioner school that’s right for you.
Get Started with your Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Today it’s easier than ever for you to further your education and increase your Nurse Practitioner salary with an online nurse practitioner degree. If you want to start taking steps towards becoming a nurse practitioner, find the online school and degree program that’s right for you today!
Online Adult Nurse Practitioner Program
Gain extensive clinical practice as you prepare for a career in adult primary care.
Online Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Study how illness affects the family and work with both children and adult patients.
Online Clinical Nurse Specialist Program
Choose your direction with focuses that include research, clinical practice, management, teaching, and more.
Online Nurse Educator Degree
Combine your knowledge and passion for teaching to help shape the future generation of nurses.
Online Nurse Midwife Program
Help guide women through their pregnancies and provide medical care to the woman and infant after delivery.
Online Nursing Administration Degree
Ensure quality care for patients as you coordinate and manage a team of nurses in the workplace.
Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program
Help care for and treat patients suffering from various forms of mental illness.
Online Women’s Health Program
Apply your nurse practitioner skills to diagnosing and managing medical conditions for female patients.
Nurse Practitioner Career Resources
There are a lot of things to consider as you move forward with your education and begin plotting the course of your career, but you don’t have to do it alone. Get the information you need by exploring our Career Resources below.
Nurse Practitioner Careers
Learn more about the different career options that exist for professional nurse practitioners.
Nurse Practitioner Schools
Find out more about what to consider when choosing a nurse practitioner school and find the one that’s best for you.
Nurse Practitioner Programs
Explore the different areas of study that are out there and find the one that best fits your career goals.
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Learn more about salary trends for nurse practitioners and find out how you can increase your earnings.