5 Great Reasons to Become a Nurse Practitioner

Thousands of students sign up to become nurses every year. Nursing is an honorable and rewarding career for those with a natural desire to help and take care of others. If you are considering entering the nursing field, you may want to consider the advantages of taking your education a step further and becoming a nurse practitioner.

The duties and responsibilities of a nurse practitioner often include more diagnostic and decision-making power on behalf of patients. Most RNs have to simply act on the recommendations of a doctor and do not have the qualifications to administer their treatments or medications. A nurse practitioner essentially has more treatment power, including being able to prescribe medications.

Many nurse practitioners that have come through online FNP programs may choose to work in rural areas with limited medical resources for the community. Others enjoy working in large urban hospitals and clinics. Whether you work within a community or pursue your APRN, nursing requires passion and dedication.

Various Work Environments

When you become a nurse practitioner, you will have a wide range of opportunities at hand. These uniquely qualified individuals are in high demand in many different areas of the healthcare industry. Nurse practitioners are trained to diagnose patients and prescribe medications, making them invaluable to private doctor's offices, clinics, or overpacked hospitals that lack enough doctors to handle the patient influx.

Higher Compensation

As a nurse practitioner, you can expect to make a significantly higher compensation package. The average starting salary is over \$50 per hour and can reach as high as \$75 per hour in private practice or a large university hospital setting. As an experienced professional, you have the potential to earn more than \$200,000 per year.

Job Growth

It is estimated that the field of nurse practitioning will expand by over 30% over the next decade. There are various reasons for this particular growth, including the expanding senior population, the increase in chronic diseases, and the expansion of mental health care needs in all sectors of the population. The simple truth is that medical professionals are in high demand, and graduates of a nurse practitioner degree program are 98% likely to find viable employment within three months of graduation.

Flexible Working Schedule

As a nurse practitioner, you will have a broader choice of work environments. If you prefer to spend time with your young family during the day, you may choose to be an on-call practitioner that works evenings and weekends. If you want to have your evenings and weekends free, you could choose to work in a clinic or doctor's office that has regular business hours.

Direct Patient Care

When you work as a nurse practitioner, you will be more directly involved in the overall care of your patients. You will be able to diagnose and command treatment options for your patients without relying on a doctor's advice or guidance.

If you enjoy working with people and have a strong desire to provide a positive difference in their overall wellness, you should consider these benefits of becoming a nurse practitioner.