One of the wonderful things about becoming a licensed registered nurse is that there are countless opportunities for career advancement. Pursuing your education further will increase your salary and your value to your current employer, and will also open numerous new doors for you in other areas of healthcare.
We’re going to tell you about several popular and high-paying advanced nursing career options for registered nurses, and what you will need to pursue those careers.
Without a doubt, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are paid the highest salary of any of the nursing professions. The starting salary of a CRNA will be in the six figures.
The duties of a CRNA may include assessing the patient before administering anesthesia, administering anesthesia, and providing care as the patient recovers anesthesia.
The CRNA program is challenging and rigorous, but if it is the type of job that you enjoy, the rewards, both financial and personal, can be huge. CRNA programs are master’s degree programs and take 24 to 36 months.
To apply for a CRNA program, you must already be a registered nurse and have at least one year of experience in an acute care setting. Here is a list of accredited nurse anesthesia programs.
Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who can perform many of the same functions as a physician. In some states nurse practitioners can function as the primary care provider for patients. They may assess patients and prescribe medications. The salary for nurse practitioners averages from the $70,000s to the $80,0000s.
Nurse practioners are registered nurses who have at least a master’s degree. According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, there are 120,000 licensed nurse practitioners currently practicing in the United States.
If you love the thought of helping bring new life into the world, you may want to consider a career as a midwife. According to the American College of Nurse Midwives, in 2003 nurse-midwives attended 310,000 deliveries. They conduct 20 million patient visits a year. The median salary for a Certified Nurse Midwife is $83,908, according to salary.com..
Midwives may evaluate patient conditions, educate patients about prenatal care and health issues, assist with labor and delivery, and provide some post-natal care. They may have their own private practice or work in a clinic or hospital.
Requirements for nurse midwives vary by state, but they must at least be registered nurses who then attend either a master’s degree program or a certificate program with a specialty in midwifery.