Advanced Nurse Practitioner Career

Nurse anesthetist, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are all referred to as advanced practice registered nurses. They can practice direct patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare to patients. The career as a APRN varies from state to state. In 2014 advanced practice nurses occupied about 170,000 jobs in healthcare. The industries that employ advanced practitioners included doctors’ offices, local state, private hospitals, outpatient care centers, educational services on the state local and private sector and other offices of health specialties such as mental health facilities. Choosing this career can be both physically and emotionally demanding, advanced practice nurse job duties may require them to stay or spend a lot of time on their feet, they are at risk for back injuries because they may be required to lift and move patients. It can also be stressful because of the critical decisions that may affect a patient’s health, they may also come in contact with many infectious diseases. Due to these possibilities it is required for them to follow strict standardize guidelines to prevent against diseases and other risk such as accidental needle sticks and unexpected patient reactions. Practitioners employed by physicians’ offices or schools, typically work regular business hours and the other groups that work in hospitals and various healthcare facilities may work shifts around the clock and they may work nights’ weekends, holidays and those that choose to deliver babies may also be required to be on call. Advance practice nurses  job duties include; take and record patient’s medical history, perform physical assessments, monitor patient care, create treatment plans for patient care or contribute to existing clients care, order diagnostic test, operate medical equipment, diagnosed various health issues, analyze test results or change in patient’s condition, change treatment plans as needed, give patients medicines and treatments, evaluate patient responses to medications and treatments, collaborate with doctors and all healthcare professionals as needed, counsel and teach patients and their families health maintenance and conduct research. Advanced nurse practitioners work independently or in collaboration with other positions, in most states they can prescribe medications or medical testing, diagnose health problems, they may provide primary and preventive care and specializing care to a particular group of people such as children, pregnant women and patients with mental health disorders. Salaries for the advanced nurse practitioner varies, the salary depends on the industry the advanced nurse practitioner chooses to work and even what state they choose to work in, every state is different.

The median annual wage for advanced nurse practitioners as of May 2015 was at least $104,740 the median wage is the wage at which half of the employees earned less. The lowest 10% earned less than $71,530 and the highest 10% earned more than 171,560. As of May 2015 the top industries that employ advanced nurse practitioners included hospitals, doctor’s offices, outpatient centers and other health practitioners such as educational services by state, local or private offices. The educational requirements for each advanced nurse practitioner field also varies. Advanced nurse practitioner degree includes a Master’s of Science in nurse midwives or in advanced nurse practitioner. The education requirements include both clinical experience and classroom education courses include Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology. College course work are specific to each degree choice. In order to become an advance practical nurse practitioner, a current registered nurse license or with a bachelor’s degree must be obtained. After completion of your bachelor’s degree in science and you have obtained a license. Continuing the education requirements for the MSN program must be completed to become an advanced nurse practitioner. After completing your graduate degree there is a required national certification exam to take which is required in the majority of all the states. Important qualities in this career include great communication skills, critical thinking skills, compassion, organizational skills, excellent interpersonal skills and leadership. The job outlook for advanced practical nurses are very promising. According to the occupational Outlook handbook look the job outlook for advanced practical nurses is projected to grow by 31% from 2014 to 2024 that is much faster than the average for all occupations. Several factors will contribute to this demand including a large number of newly insured patients increased emphasis on preventive care and a large baby-boom population. Between the years 2014 and 2020 for the number of individuals to have access to health insurance is expected to rise because of federal health insurance reform and advanced brand-new nurse practitioners or nurses can perform the same service as positions. As the laws are changing events practical nurses are being allowed to perform one services and they are becoming Wiley recognized as a source for primary healthcare. The overall job outlook for advancement nurses are likely to be excellent and advance practical nurses will be a high demand. There are pros and cons to this career path but what career doesn’t?