What Is a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner? Everything You Need to Know
Wouldn’t you agree that breathing is arguably one of the most critical aspects of life? The respiratory system enables inhaling and exhaling, logging in around 22,000 breaths daily, but still, there are instances when issues arise.
When people suffer from complications with their respiratory system, their best shot is to consult a healthcare professional specializing in such a field, such as a pulmonary nurse practitioner. But, what is this profession exactly? Where are such nurses found? Is it a promising and profitable career to pursue? For answers to these questions and more, continue reading.
What Is a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner?
A pulmonary nurse practitioner is a specialized nurse that focuses on the care and treatment of patients suffering from diseases or conditions related to the lungs or the respiratory system. The name itself implies the type of work these nurse practitioners do, as the word "pulmonary" is derived from Latin and means "pertaining to the lungs."
In fact, pulmonology, frequently referred to as pneumology, is the medical field such nurses specialize, and it relates to the study of diseases that involve the respiratory tract. Pulmonary nurse practitioners work alongside pulmonologists to help solve all problems starting from the windpipe to the lungs.
What Does a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner Do?
Nurse practitioners function as independent healthcare providers who often work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary health team. So, this advanced nursing practice role with specialist knowledge in the respiratory system deals with tasks similar to those found in a pulmonologist's description.
To better understand the role these nurse practitioners play, let's go through some of pulmonary nurse practitioners' general responsibilities and duties. Pulmonary healthcare professionals are responsible for:
Performing history and physical evaluations of patients appropriate for the patient's age, gender, and clinical problem,
Interpreting results from diagnostic studies,
Utilizing critical thinking to analyze collected data,
Developing and implementing healthcare plans,
Managing general medical conditions based on knowledge of possible side-effects and reactions due to pharmacologic agents and other treatment modalities,
Helping educate the patient and their families on their pulmonary problems,
Maintaining accurate and concise medical records.
Where Does a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner Work?
Since pulmonary nurse practitioners and pulmonologists help evaluate and treat some of the most common diseases nowadays, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung diseases, and pulmonary hypertension, their help is needed everywhere.
So, suppose you pursue a career as a pulmonary nurse practitioner — in that case, you will have the opportunity to work in various settings, including but not limited to hospitals, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, home health agencies, and nursing homes. Furthermore, such nurses can also be found in critical care units, including the emergency department and intensive care unit (ICU).
What Is the Typical Work Schedule For a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner?
The work schedule of a nurse depends on the type of work they do, the work setting, and patient cases they must attend to. Typically, as a pulmonary nurse practitioner, you will be obliged to work around 40 hours per week, so your schedule might be a few days of 12-hour shifts or shorter shifts separated throughout the week. Your work schedule can extend to weekends and even holidays in some cases.
Why Should You Become a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner?
We have established that the profession of a pulmonary nurse practitioner is essential and challenging, so why should you pursue it? Well, on top of the requirements, the job also offers many benefits you can rarely find elsewhere. To begin with the apparent reason, you will be helping patients improve one of the essential systems in their body — the respiratory system that allows them to breathe. Then, through this profession, you will be opening many doors to excellent opportunities, including flexibility with work schedules, fantastic salary, and independence that most nurses do not have.
If you become a pulmonary nurse practitioner, you will be in charge of evaluating and treating patients who suffer from respiratory illnesses or disorders. Although, as previously mentioned, you would be working closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals, you would also have the knowledge, skills, and freedom to assess and prescribe appropriate treatment to your patients without having to wait for orders from physicians in the field.
What Is the Process Of Becoming a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner?
As is the case with all professions, there is not only one single path that you must follow to begin a specific career. However, there are some general steps most pulmonary nurse practitioners go through, including academic degrees, exams, licensure, and ways to gain experience. Below we'll go through all these steps and help you find your way through pulmonary nursing.
Education
When it comes to education, an inevitable step is obtaining a degree from an accredited university nursing program. Generally, such programs include associate's degree programs and a bachelor's degree in nursing science. Such a step is necessary if you plan on applying to a Nurse Practitioner program. Depending on how ambitious you are and how quickly you want to advance your career, you could also top it all off with a doctorate to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Certification and licensure
Another great way to show potential employers that you are well prepared for the position is by obtaining the appropriate certifications and licensure. Some of the credentials most frequently required by employers and school boards are the following:
The Basic Life Support Certification (BLS),
The Advanced Life Support Certification (ACLS),
The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
However, your priority should always be the national certification you obtain upon completing your graduate studies. This certification will help you qualify for state licensure. Furthermore, to apply for licensure as a nurse practitioner, you must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which aims to determine whether you are ready to begin practicing as a nurse.
Experience
Lastly, you must always seek to pair knowledge with experience, even though the experience is rarely required at the beginning of your career. However, being well prepared is always beneficial, so it is best to gain experience through jobs, volunteering, internships, mentorship programs, etc.
How Long Does It Typically Take To Become a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner?
Because each person's journey toward becoming a pulmonary nurse practitioner differs, so will the time it takes them to do so. Generally, if you followed the steps above, you would probably begin your career as a pulmonary nurse practitioner in 6 to 8 years. This time frame typically includes obtaining your BSN and completing an NP program.
However, remember that you should not try to fit into other people's time frames and schedules. Your journey is your own, and you can take all the time you need or go about it as quickly as you want.
Salary and Job Outlook of a Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner
Lastly, let's see how worth it is all the work you must put in as a pulmonary nurse practitioner regarding monetary compensation and the work security you feel thanks to the job outlook.
According to the latest reports, the average annual salary for pulmonary nurse practitioners in the United States is $108,199 per year. Keep in mind that this salary can change depending on your work setting, the city where you practice, your experience, and even the exact role you play as a nurse.
If you are dedicated to your profession, you can be promoted to various roles with much higher salaries. For example, the average critical care pulmonologist's salary is $217,415 per year — double the average of standard pulmonary nurse practitioners.
Another excellent aspect of the job is the promising outlook which guarantees you an easy time finding a job. Reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the nurse practitioner profession will experience a 52% positive change in projected employment from 2020 to 2030.
Our Final Thoughts
All in all, choosing to pursue a career as a pulmonary nurse practitioner is a wise choice. Of course, the profession is challenging regarding the requirements before and after you secure a job, but the pros truly outweigh the cons. So, use those lungs (you will be learning so much about) to take a deep breath and go for it!