The profession of nursing has changed drastically over the past few years. With several new branches of this field emerging, nursing has become one of the most important professions of today. It is one profession that has care and compassion at the heart of it, making it one of the most satisfying jobs out there.
As life expectancy all over the world continues to rise, we have a greater proportion of the elderly within the population today. Due to this, the need for healthcare professionals has seen a consistent increase over the past few years, making it one of the most sought-after professions. While demand for advance healthcare professionals is on the rise, there is a great need for supply to increase with it, to prevent a shortage in the future.
Apart from being a noble and respected profession, Advance Nursing Practice is a diverse field that opens up some great career opportunities. If you are wondering whether this profession is for you, here are 4 benefits of becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse to make your decision easier:
1) High In Demand
The demand for all healthcare professionals is on the rise and is expected to follow this trend in the near future. This means the future is bright with plenty of career opportunities, for both current and aspiring nurses. Advanced Practice Nurses are even more in demand. Due to their advanced level of knowledge and skills, they require little or no supervision from doctors. Since there is a shortage of doctors at most healthcare organizations today, the services of APRNs are high in demand. They have a very important role to play in the treatment of patients and are able to secure better jobs with more independence, leadership opportunities, and a higher paycheck than regular nurses.
2) Easy Online Learning
In the highly-competitive world that we live in today, getting a professional qualification is very important in order to stand out from the rest in the job market. If you just rely on a simple bachelor’s degree, you are unlikely to be considered for any senior-level positions.
Thankfully, the internet has made it very easy to study online, for those wishing to obtain a higher qualification such as advanced nursing. There are a variety of online courses such as online BSN to DNP programs, that you can enroll it to pursue your dream of becoming an advanced nurse practitioner, on a schedule that suits you best.
Getting your credentials is one of the most crucial steps for stepping into this field. It will help you gain in-depth knowledge and make you an expert in your field. In order to work as an Advanced Practice Nurse, it is a requirement to hold a master’s degree in a specific branch of nursing as well as a license.
3) Greater Opportunities
Given the high demand, it is no secret that advance nursing practices come with great career prospects. Advance Practice Nurses have a rapidly growing array of job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for Advance Practice Nurses are expected to grow by 26% from the year 2018 to 2028, which is significantly faster than most other professions. The average salary that comes along with this fast-paced growth can accumulate to a total of $113,930 per year or $54.78 per hour.
One of the major benefits of advance nursing practice is that you can exercise a much higher degree of autonomy compared to other nurses. Working at an advanced level also gives you the flexibility to have greater control over your work schedule. A wide variety of jobs are available, including both part-time and full-time options.
Being an Advanced Practice Nurse, you have the choice of several different career paths. You can choose to work in the following areas:
- Certified Nurse Practitioners specialize in family care, pediatrics and women’s health.
- Clinical Nurse Practitioners are trained to provide direct care to patients. They may lead other nurses and provide guidance to them on how to improve nursing practices.
- Certified Nurse-Midwives work as gynecologists and obstetricians, providing services to women of all ages, providing medical assistance on various health issues from adolescence to childbirth.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are trained to administer anesthesia to patients going through surgeries or other medical treatments and help them with pain management.
4)A respected field
There are a few very noble professions in the world and nursing is definitely one of them. In the field of nursing, the pressure and stress are immense however, the reward and respect that you receive is equally great. Being responsible for the wellbeing and health of an individual is a great responsibility. Nurses all around the world play a great role in nurturing patients back to health with care and compassion. They work tirelessly with patients day and night, providing the empathy and care that they need while in pain.
The gratitude that advance practitioner nurses receive from patients truly surpasses any of the monetary benefits. It makes you realize how sometimes working for humanity is far greater than anything else that you can do.
Conclusion
If you are considering whether to opt for Advance Nursing Practice as your career path, be assured that it is a good choice if it matches your interests. There is always a demand for qualified nurses, no matter what the state of the economy. While many other professions tend to experience a fall in demand if the economy slows down or goes through a recession, this is not the case for healthcare professionals. It is a secure and reliable career path with decent pay.
And when you think of the positive contribution you are making in people’s lives and society as a whole, you get a sense of contentment that is unparalleled.
