The two primary reasons to become a nurse practitioner are emotional satisfaction obtained from serving people and the financial rewards. This article tells you more about this job…
This field of nursing is probably the most preferred in the health care industry, due to several different reasons. The nursing profession is typically divided into certain positions which include Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), and lastly Nurse Practitioners (NP). Nurse Practitioners, also sometimes referred to as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs), work in highest positions in this career opportunity. These clinical experts work at a higher level than RNs, due to their expertise and education in a particular area of patient care. There are many reasons to become a nurse practitioner; such as sufficient pay, flexibility in working hours, job security, and the satisfaction of helping patients in need. All these reasons are discussed in detail in the following.
Why Become a Nurse Practitioner
Plenty of Job Openings
Almost all positions in the nursing profession have a great demand, not only in the US but all over the world. You will find plenty of job openings in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and many others. Nursing is always on the top of the best careers, be it for high income or in-demand jobs.
Utmost Job Security
Health care careers are considered to be the most secure jobs amongst any industry. People undoubtedly require health care services, regardless of how strong the economy is. This is the main reason for job requirements and job security. During the recently-faced recession, nursing professions were not at all impacted.
Career Variables
Traditionally, nursing services were just limited to medical settings for providing patient care. The nursing practitioner medical profession has recently spread through other areas such as education and research. Nowadays, NPs can provide services in nursing research entities, and teach in medical colleges. They are also an integral part of patient advocacy groups.
Specialized Work
Unlike LPNs and RNs, NPs usually carry out work according to their areas of expertise and specialization. Due to this, they have to work only on specialized medical cases. They have to attend to a lesser number of patients and thus have a low patient load. The fields of specializations include pediatrics, anesthetics, psychiatry, and critical care, just to name a few. NPs are believed to be the next generation of personnel in nursing.
Significant Financial Remuneration
After doctors and physicians, nurse practitioners are probably the best paid medical specialists. It has been recorded that they may receive a median pay of around $90,000 annually, which is more than any job in the business world. Along with the basic income, NPs are also entitled to medical and dental care provisions. To get a rough idea of their salary, you can refer to the following table.
| Years of Experience | Median Salary Scale |
| 0 to One Year | $62,000 – $81,000 |
| One to Four Years | $68,000 – $83,000 |
| Five to Nine Years | $72,500 – $90,000 |
| 10 to 19 Years | $75,000 – $94,000 |
| Over 20 Years | $73,000 – $99,000 |
| State of Employment | Median Salary Scale |
| New York | $72,000 – $93,500 |
| California | $75,500 – $100,000 |
| Texas | $72,000 – $87,500 |
| Illinois | $72,500 – $87,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,500 – $84,500 |
| City of Employment | Median Salary Scale |
| New York City | $79,500 – $102,000 |
| Boston | $75,000 – $106,000 |
| Atlanta | $65,000 – $84,500 |
| Chicago | $72,000 – $89,000 |
| Philadelphia | $73,500 – $88,000 |
These are some of the reasons to become a nurse practitioner. If you have a desire to serve people in need, nursing professions are the best. By working with patients and the needy, you get a sense of emotional satisfaction. Besides, this is not a fixed job with regards to timing, and so you can be flexible enough with your routine work. If you are presently an RN, you can opt for advanced degrees in nursing and move further to become a nurse practitioner. You need to have additional clinical training and advanced education, which is normally a master’s degree in nursing. You may even go in for a doctorate in nursing for progressing in research and teaching areas. In order to get more about this career, you can approach the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.