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Let’s be honest; pursuing a career in nursing is not merely a job; it’s a vocation and a way of life. Do you enjoy challenging work that offers you a sense of fulfillment and allows you to interact with people? In that case, a profession as a nurse or urgent care near me might be just what you need. Those thinking about a nursing career must realize that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) hold the most advanced positions in this dynamic field.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs can provide between 60 to 80 percent of primary and preventive care. [s1] NPs have the authority to diagnose illnesses, write prescriptions for controlled drugs, request lab tests, and much more. However, as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, so does the role of these professionals. Moreover, what they choose to specialize in will determine their specific duties and the patients they serve.
That said, there is a growing demand for specialized NPs that can address evolving challenges in healthcare. As a result, it leads to the creation of exciting career choices for NPs. Thus, in the article below, we will take a closer look at the career paths and specialties that NPs can pursue:
1. Family Nurse Practitioner
The first step to becoming an NP is earning a bachelor’s degree. However, if you are a working professional who holds a bachelor’s degree in a different field, don’t fret. You can enroll yourself in an accelerated online BSN degree program and swiftly switch to a nursing career. The best thing about this program is that you can complete your degree in as little as 24 months. Moreover, with the online program, you can balance your time between your family and work responsibilities while you study.
Once you have earned your BSN degree, you can further your expertise by specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). It might be a perfect choice, especially if you enjoy delivering care to patients of all ages in various healthcare settings. To be successful in this path, you must possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Typical job duties of an FNP can include the following:
- Conduct thorough physical examinations or screenings of patients
- Maintain accurate patient’s medical history and records
- Request and interpret diagnostic tests
- Prescribe medications and offer viable treatment plans
- Educate patients about illness management
According to PayScale, the average salary of FNP is $102,107 annually as of 2023.[s2]
2. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Are you naturally good with children? Then, specializing as a pediatric nurse practitioner might be your calling. As a professional in this path, you will be responsible for treating children from infancy to adolescence. You will put in endless effort to promote balanced growth and development for future generations.
Work settings may include clinics, hospitals, physician’s offices, etc. Good communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills can take your career to the next level.
The day-to-day job responsibilities of a pediatric nurse practitioner can include the following:
- Conduct regular checkups and assess their growth and development
- Diagnose and treat illnesses or injuries
- Administer immunizations and vaccines appropriate to their age
- Educate children and their loved ones on illness treatment and health maintenance
- Stay abreast of current practices and guidelines
Currently, the average annual salary of these professionals is $97,910.[s3]
3. Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Professionals who specialize in this field offer care to patients diagnosed with cancer. As an ONP, you will be responsible for cancer patients throughout every stage of their treatment. It can include from the challenging time of diagnosis to the tiring road of recovery and sometimes even till the end of their life.
Of course, since it is a trying period for the patient and their loved ones, you must have strong attention to detail, compassion, and communication skills to excel in your job.
The following are some of the job duties of oncology nurse practitioner:
- Evaluate the patient’s medical history and symptoms
- Administer therapies, such as chemotherapy
- Monitor treatment’s side effects and manage it
- Create and implement an individualized treatment plan
- Contribute to research related to cancer and keep abreast of advancements
As per PayScale, the median salary of an oncology nurse practitioner is $101,280 per year in 2023.
4. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s health nurse practitioners are professionals who offer comprehensive and ongoing medical care to women. It can include gynecological, reproductive, and obstetric health care. They differ from certified midwives, who only concentrate on childbirth.
These experts work in different settings, including fertility offices, hospitals, and other private practices. Honing skills like communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and empathy are essential to succeeding in this role.
Below are typical job responsibilities of women’s health nurse practitioner:
- Perform thorough evaluations and screenings of women’s health
- Diagnose and treat problems affecting women’s health
- Offer prenatal and postpartum care
- Stay up-to-date with the latest research on women’s health and laws
- Counsel people on family planning and contraception
Being a women’s health nurse practitioner, you can expect an annual salary of $99,892.[s4]
5. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners (AGNP) oversee patient’s health from early adulthood through old age. These professionals can further specialize in primary or acute care. Being a primary care NP, you will be providing routine healthcare services to the patients. However, as for being an acute care NP, you are in charge of treating patients with chronic or critical illnesses.
Effective communication, analytical, leadership, and interpersonal are a few vital traits you must hone to be a good AGNP. You can find employment opportunities at hospital inpatient and outpatient units, clinics, or practice privately.
Some of the everyday job duties of an AGNP can include the following:
- Assess and diagnose the health conditions of patients by performing thorough checkups
- Request diagnostic tests and prescribe medications
- Create and implement care plans, including medication management
- Work together with other healthcare professionals to offer comprehensive care
- Work with patients and their families in health promotion and disease prevention planning
According to PayScale, adult gerontology nurse practitioners make an average of $96,198 annually.[s5]
Conclusion
In the world of nursing, there are various career paths and areas for nurse practitioners to specialize in. Professionals in this field need to continually learn and develop new strategies to make healthcare better for all.
From FNP and oncology to neonatal and gerontology, each path has its own challenges and rewards. Which path you choose to pursue significantly depends on your interest and passion. It is relevant to note that this list above is, by no means, exhaustive. There are other options, too. Regardless of the path you choose to follow, the journey of an NP is undeniably exciting, lucrative, and gratifying.
[s2]Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary in 2023 | PayScale
[s3]Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary in 2023 | PayScale
[s4]Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary in 2023 | PayScale
[s5]Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Salary in 2023 | PayScale