Nurse practitioners perform medical care on patients and can practice without doctor supervision. You might enjoy a career as a nurse practitioner if you want to enter the medical field and if you like helping people. Jobs a nurse practitioner might apply for also usually pay high salaries and provide steady employment and job security. In this article, we explore eight jobs you might apply for as a nurse practitioner.
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What is a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who can provide health care services without the supervision of a physician. Nurse practitioners can conduct physical examinations, diagnose medical conditions, and prescribe treatment or medications for their patients. Many nurse practitioners also specialize in an area of medicine, like pediatrics or oncology, so they can perform more advanced and complex healthcare services. A career as a nurse practitioner typically offers stable employment and jobs with competitive salaries.
Types of nurse practitioners
Many nurse practitioners decide to specialize in a specific area of medicine. An area of focus could be determined by deliberate training for that focus or perhaps the facility where a nurse practitioner practices will determine a focus, given the type of doctor’s office or clientele of a clinic or other variables within a location. Here is an example list of some common areas of focus:
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General nurse practitioner
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Orthopedic nurse practitioner
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Pediatric Endocrinology nurse practitioner
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Dermatology nurse practitioner
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Gerontological nurse practitioner
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Women’s health nurse practitioner
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Neonatal nurse practitioner
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Cardiac nurse practitioner
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Holistic care nurse practitioner
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Surgical nurse practitioner
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Acute care nurse practitioner
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Oncology nurse practitioner
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Chronic pain nurse practitioner
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Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
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Emergency medicine nurse practitioner
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Nephrology nurse practitioner
Eight high-paying nurse practitioner jobs
The following list of focuses is highly specialized and also comes with particularly high paying salaries.
1. Certified nurse midwife
National average salary: $89,530 per year
Primary duties: A certified nurse midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who is certified to provide care for women and infant patients. Certified nurse-midwives can perform primary care practices like conducting physical exams and gynecological services and also educate their patients about reproductive health. Most certified nurse-midwives assist in childbirth operations by helping women through labor and caring for infants once they’re born. Certified nurse midwives also focus on their patient’s mental health needs and offer guidance and support to new mothers.
2. Advanced practice registered nurse
National average salary: $90,403 per year
Primary duties: An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse who pursues advanced education in nursing. Many advanced practice registered nurses choose to become nurse practitioners after their education so they can implement the nursing practices and advanced care procedures they learn during their postgraduate study. Advanced practice registered nurses can often work without physician supervision, and they perform duties like conducting physical examinations, overseeing patient records, and developing treatment plans for their patients.
3. Director of nursing
National average salary: $92,482 per year
Primary duties: A director of nursing oversees the nursing practices in a health care facility. Some nurse practitioners choose to pursue a career as a director of nursing so they can improve the nursing processes they observe and practice. Directors of nursing supervise a facility’s nursing staff and daily operations and implement changes in nursing policy that can improve efficiency and patient satisfaction. Most directors of nursing work as registered nurses or nurse practitioners first to enter the field and build experience.
4. Clinical nurse specialist
National average salary: $96,191 per year
Primary duties: A clinical nurse specialist is a nurse practitioner who provides patient care and supports nurses in their facility. Clinical nurse specialists also focus on improving the facilities where they work by analyzing practices and implementing policy changes that can improve processes in the workplace. They can also perform the typical duties of a nurse practitioner, such as diagnosing medical conditions, prescribing treatment, and monitoring patient health.
5. Family nurse practitioner
National average salary: $110,356 per year
Primary duties: A family nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who completes specialized training in family practice. Family nurse practitioners can treat children and adult patients and often work for family practices or clinics. A large part of a family nurse practitioner’s job is helping patients maintain their health over time and providing education about preventative care, which also leads many family nurse practitioners to work with communities in need.
6. Nurse practitioner
National average salary: $116,508 per year
Primary duties: A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse in the medical field who can practice medicine without the supervision of a physician. Nurse practitioners can perform exams, diagnose illnesses or injuries, prescribe medication, and offer treatment for certain conditions. Most nurse practitioners also know how to operate medical equipment and analyze results from medical testing. Nurse practitioners typically work in hospitals, clinics, or other medical care facilities.
7. Pediatric nurse practitioner
National average salary: $124,550 per year
Primary duties: A pediatric nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who completes advanced studies in neonatal and pediatric health care. Pediatric nurse practitioners primarily treat children and infant patients, especially those in critical care. Many pediatric nurse practitioners provide medical treatment for newborn patients who are premature or develop medical conditions before birth. Some pediatric nurse practitioners also choose to undergo additional training to work with newborns in critical condition.
8. Certified registered nurse anesthetist
National average salary: $152,996 per year
Primary duties: A certified registered nurse anesthetist is a registered nurse who administers anesthesia to patients undergoing medical procedures. Certified registered nurse anesthetists often work closely with anesthesiologists and surgeons before, during, and after surgery to monitor patients and manage their pain levels. Certified registered nurse anesthetists might work in any location where patients receive surgical procedures, such as hospitals, health care clinics or specialized practices like dentist or podiatrist offices.
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