Fast Track Your Future in Primary Care.
The overall career outlook for all types of nurse practitioners — including FNPs — is excellent. With job openings expected to grow by 31 percent through 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it truly is the perfect time to advance your expertise within the field.
Where can you work?
- Hospitals and medical clinics
- Health departments
- Schools
- Primary care offices
- Urgent care clinics
- Hospices
- Primary Care Private Practices
- Community clinics
- Nursing homes
What roles can you hold?
- Primary Care Mid-level Provider
- Acute Care Mid-level Provider
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Researcher
What’s your growth potential?
With demand for nurse practitioners surging in the U.S., the potential payoff is promising:
- RNs who pursue their certificate to qualify for a nurse practitioner role could see a $25,000 salary increase. (Salary.com)
- Nurse practitioners earned an annual median wage of nearly $103,880 in 2017. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- U.S. News & World Report ranks nurse practitioners among the best career paths in 2018: #3 Best Healthcare Jobs and #4 in the 100 Best Jobs.
Sources: Salary.com (data as of February 2015); BLS.gov (data as of Febraury 2017); U.S. News & World Report
Let’s take an in-depth look at a few of your career options:
Primary Care Mid-level Provider*
Median Salary: $90,456
Family nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who perform many of the same functions as physicians. These practitioners are able to treat, diagnose, prescribe medicines, and serve as primary care providers (PCPs) for some insurance companies. Family nurse practitioners work with patients of all ages, from young children to older adults.
Acute Care Mid-level Provider*
Median Salary: $98,031
Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) administer acute care medicine, treatments, and assess patient needs by regularly checking vital signs and managing other symptoms that could indicate changes in the patient’s condition. They often interact with patients and families to explain processes and treatments to ensure all parties understand goals and patient outcomes.
Nurse Educator*
Median Salary: $72,944
Nurse Educators analyze the healthcare where they work to provide the best educational resources for staff members. They must be able to facilitate training, evaluations, and any necessary employee remediation. This generally involves the development of manuals, training guides, and a variety of procedures and systems.
Nurse Researcher**
Median Salary: $74,022***
Nurse researchers work to help create, evaluate, and perfect new and old medications and treatments for various medical problems. Nurse researchers work in a variety of areas related to pharmaceutical and medical research. The work of nurse researchers can help some patients live longer or enjoy a better quality of life.