8 Benefits of Being a Nurse Practitioner

Roles in healthcare have significantly changed due to the increasing demand for healthcare services. What used to be a physician-centric industry when it comes to autonomy in practice, now allows for more flexibility in healthcare roles and responsibilities. 

The role of nurse practitioners (NPs), for example, dates back to 1965, when Dr. Loretta Ford and Dr. Henry Silver developed the first NP program. Seeing as this role is quite new in comparison to others in healthcare, its scope of practice evolved quickly due to the high demand for healthcare services. The duties of nurse practitioners have branched out and they have gained more importance over time. Nowadays, a career as a nurse practitioner allows for plenty of flexibility and authority in practice, making it a rewarding path both professionally and personally.

Interested in becoming an NP? Let’s discover some of the other great advantages of being a nurse practitioner:

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1. Career Longevity 

Although many jobs are becoming obsolete due to the advancement of technology, nurse practitioners do not need to worry about that. There will always be a need for the face-to-face patient care of nurse practitioners. This ensures further stability and security in an already secure field of work.

2. In-demand Field of Work

The job outlook has never been better for nurse practitioners who are looking to kickstart their careers. While jobs in healthcare are known for their stability and demand due to the constant need for healthcare services, the employment rates for nurse practitioners are even more promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which includes nurse practitioners, is projected to grow by 45 percent from 2019 to 2029. This is a higher percentage than the average for all occupations, further proving the necessity for this role.

3. Flexible Hours

Depending on the environment they choose to work in, nurse practitioners can have the opportunity to choose the length of the shifts that they want to pick. In emergency rooms that operate 24 hours, for example, these shifts can range from eight to ten or twelve hours. 

Shifts can be during the day, evenings, or late nights. NPs that work in clinics that offer three twelve-hour shift workdays can have the rest of the weekdays off, which offers plenty of flexibility and time off from work to create a good work-life balance. 

4. Opportunity to Work Independently 

Nurse practitioners’ scope of practice in the U.S. is categorized into three practice environments: full, reduced, and restricted practice. Having full practice authority means that NPs are permitted by law to evaluate and diagnose health conditions as well as prescribe and initiate treatments and medications. 

The practice authority is regulated on state level, therefore whether a nurse practitioner can practice without the supervision of a physician depends on whether their state laws permit full practice. While a number of states can restrict practice, a great number of states allow nurse practitioners to work independently. These U.S. states and territories allow full practice:

  • Alaska,

  • Arizona,

  • Colorado,

  • Connecticut,

  • Delaware,

  • District of Columbia,

  • Guam,

  • Hawaii,

  • Idaho,

  • Iowa,

  • Maine,

  • Maryland,

  • Massachusetts,

  • Minnesota,

  • Montana,

  • Nebraska,

  • Nevada,

  • New Hampshire,

  • New Mexico,

  • North Dakota,

  • Northern Mariana Islands,

  • Oregon,

  • Rhode Island,

  • South Dakota,

  • Vermont,

  • Washington,

  • Wyoming.

5. Competitive Salaries

Working as a nurse practitioner means you will provide primary and specialty care, which can often be quite challenging. However, in return, nurses are compensated quite well. When it comes to salaries, the BLS reports a median annual salary of $117,670 for APRNs (nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives). Salaries can vary from state to state and from the type of healthcare facility one works in, however, these data show that overall, a career as an NP is quite lucrative and offers competitive salaries.

6. Building Genuine Connections with Patients

While physicians are primary caregivers in most healthcare settings, other roles such as NPs have started to gain more independence as demand for primary care providers increases. Often, patients will choose nurse practitioners as their primary care providers due to their excellent care and holistic approach. Due to spending more time with patients and often caring for them through various phases of their life, nurse practitioners can build genuine relationships with their patients and provide sincere service.

7. Job Satisfaction

Healthcare workers are one of the most respected and appreciated professionals due to the impact that they make in caring for people’s health. They are both healers and educators for health-related issues, therefore they truly make a difference in their patient’s lives. This makes the role of a nurse practitioner a highly gratifying one, since their work is praised and recognized, they are paid fairly, and can truly appreciate their work due to its significance in other people’s well-being.

8. Plenty of Specialization Fields

An important aspect of choosing the NP career path involves the variety of fields that NPs can work and specialize in. If you prefer working with children, you can become a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). If you want to provide nursing care for the elderly, you can become a geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP). There is a myriad of choices when it comes to NP specialties. These include:

  • Acute Care,

  • Adult,

  • Family,

  • Gerontological,

  • Neonatal,

  • Oncology,

  • Pediatric,

  • Psychiatric/Mental Health,

  • Women’s Health.

Working as a nurse practitioner will have its challenges, but the benefits of doing such meaningful work will outweigh them in the long run. If you’re considering working as an NP, these 8 advantages are worth adding to the pros section in your list of pros and cons.

If you’re interested in finding out how to become a family nurse practitioner, check out our article on The Role of an FNP. 

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