What is A nurse practitioner?
Nurses, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, specialize by patient population and are trained to work in areas such as women’s health or pediatrics. They may also work in research or academia.
Their job is similar to that of a doctor, right? So, what’s the difference? The main difference is the amount of formal education required. Doctors have more training, and their breadth of knowledge and salaries are usually commensurate with their additional work. However, increasingly—and somewhat controversially—nurses are providing primary care to patients.
Many nurse practitioners first worked as registered nurses, where their treatment of patients expanded into holistic health care. They bring this field to the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical issues.
Nurses are paid handsomely for their work, with 50% earning six-figure salaries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a 52.2 percent employment growth for nurses between 2020 and 2030. During that period, an estimated 114,900 jobs will be created.
How much does a nurse practitioner earn?
How to become A nurse practitioner?
Then, you’ll need to get a master’s degree or a doctorate, which can take anywhere from two to four years. Then there is additional certification to use the APRN title and board certification for your specialty, such as women’s health, pediatrics, or newborns, to name a few. And you also need to get a state license.