Choosing to study to be a nurse practitioner is a wise choice for many reasons. The opportunities that arise from it are vast and will provide you with a secure, interesting, and purposeful career. If you are the type of person who’s interested in helping people and are intrigued by healthcare, continue reading for a summary of the reasons why you should decide to train to be an NP.
Pick your Practice
When you choose to study as a nurse practitioner, you open the door to many possibilities. Firstly, there’s a variety of different specialties that you can choose to focus on. These are made up of 13 different types of practices which include family, oncology, and psychiatric NP sectors. If you’re already aware of which you’d prefer to go into, you’ll get a head-start by being able to quickly choose a certain program.
Other healthcare courses don’t allow you to choose and instead, limit you to a mandatory set of modules so it’s beneficial to choose NP training. When it comes to deciding where to study, there are fantastic NP courses available.
A Speedy Step into Healthcare
It may be that at some point, you’ve considered other healthcare jobs such as becoming a doctor but decided against it because it requires many years to achieve the required qualifications. With an NP certificate, you bypass the demands of medical school, while still ensuring you will have fantastic opportunities after you graduate. Furthermore, if you are trained as a nurse practitioner, it’s possible to successfully land jobs without practical work experience. Check this NP page to learn more about practice authority and how it allows NPs to practice without physician oversight.
Depending on which specialty to choose, it’s unclear how long it will take to become qualified, but you can find more information online.
Worthwhile Wages
Further education is becoming increasingly expensive. The financial demands that come with it can be very daunting and off-putting. However, choosing an NP degree is a worthwhile investment because it will result in well-paid wages when you enter employment. Nurse Practitioners are paid very well and are amongst some of the highest earners in America. In fact, studies show that the average salary of $114,840 per year. If you want to look into the costs of an NP course, then you can find many sources on the internet. Furthermore, you will be able to find multiple guides on the financial support available to you. Remember to take full advantage by applying for scholarships if you are eligible.
Employment is Ensured
Nurse practitioners have an exceptional chance of finding work. They will never be short of opportunities because there is an ever-growing demand in this industry. As multiple statistics have proven, the field is thriving so if you choose this type of work, not only will it secure great wages, but it will also grant you job security which is a worry for many people in the US. The number of opportunities tends to be generally consistent, but some states offer more placements than others so this is worth investigating once you have graduated.
Flexibility in the Future
As stated previously, if you become qualified in a certain sector, you can always move forward into other fields. You will never have to be restricted by being able to spread out and learn other specialties. Not only will this improve your skillset, but it will make you even more desirable to potential employers. Becoming certified in multiple types of NP is something that people in the field usually do and is an amazing way to improve your experience in the field. For useful information on how you would explore a new sector, click here.
Schedule Your Shifts to Suit You
Not only does this line of work offer flexibility when it comes to which specialties you study, but it also provides you with the chance to work at times that are better suited to you. If you don’t want to work weekend shifts or take on late nights, you can often negotiate this with your employers before you sign your contract. Whichever work schedule you desire, you are more likely to have the power to choose when you choose an NP career.
Teaching is Within Your Reach
Becoming a nurse practitioner can even grant you the chance to teach others. You may not be thinking about going into teaching just yet, but you can certainly take up teaching further down the line if you want to. There are multiple educational institutions that hire NP professionals to share their knowledge and expertise. If becoming a professor in NP is something you eventually undertake, you’ll also learn new things yourself along the way and stay updated with the latest information in the field.
If you’re certain that teaching in a university setting isn’t for you, then maybe a school for younger students would be preferable. It’s very rewarding to play a part in teaching the next generation. The moment when you witness a student grasp something because of your help is immeasurably rewarding. If you choose to teach, then you will shape the future of NP.
Promote Empowerment for Patients
You may decide that teaching in an educational institute like a school or university isn’t for you. However, if you do become a nurse practitioner, you will inevitably teach your patients. Of course, you won’t be allocating homework or marking tests, but sometimes the job involves informing patients how to empower themselves and make healthy choices. Some students may struggle to be independent and lack organizational skills – you can help them by advising them, in a way that will have a positive effect on their wellbeing.
You Can Work Worldwide
If you aspire to be a global get-goer and venture to new destinations, this is a smart career choice. The demand for NP workers isn’t limited to the US. Countries around the world, such as the UK, Canada, Holland, and many more are also seeking employees to meet the same growing needs in this sector. If this sounds like something you wish to explore, you can find many agencies that offer suitable positions that will improve and add to your work/life experience. It’s a good idea to have a basic grasp of the language of your destination. However, most places do speak English and don’t require you to be fluent in foreign languages. More information about working internationally as an NP can be found online.
Real Relationships
The nursing profession requires you to always harbor great communication, empathy, and patience. Each day you will have to establish positive relationships with your co-workers and mostly the patients. The nurse practitioners who are most effective in their jobs are the ones who have built a brilliant rapport with the people who rely on them. In return, they are valued and respected. Furthermore, NPs are usually automatically trusted, so you will be responsible to uphold the high expectations that come with the job. During your training as an NP, relationships with patients will be something that you’ll need to strongly focus on.
It’s an Exciting Experience
Nursing is a very interesting job; you never have to be bored in this line of work. As an NP, you will get used to the routine and become more familiar with your daily tasks. However, no matter how long you have been doing the job, there will always be new challenges and things to learn. With technology evolving, you will witness first-hand how to incorporate it with clinical practice and will always have access to extra training to give you a wider understanding of other specialties. Therefore, you’ll never feel stuck in a role you find mundane and have chances to progress further up the ladder.
Another fun aspect stems from the fact that you will constantly be around new people. Most of whom are friendly and want to talk to you about your lives or share interesting stories. Many NPs say that engaging with the customers brightens their day and they appreciate their company. This job is undoubtedly difficult but also full of unexpected laughter.
Online Opportunities
There are plenty of chances to work remotely if you are not necessarily needed on-site for your shift. Many healthcare institutions are using technology to assist their patients. Whether it’s an online appointment, e-prescriptions, or screening tests, there are many healthcare organizations that offer these services for patients. Of course, if you work from home, you’ll probably miss out on the social aspects of the job but sometimes when we have commitments at home, it’s more convenient to be able to work remotely. Since the Coronavirus epidemic, this kind of healthcare service has grown exponentially, so it probably won’t be difficult to find potential jobs if online work seems more suited to you.
The work of a nurse practitioner is very important indeed. As you know, becoming an NP will give you a multitude of personal benefits whilst greatly improving the lives of those around you. You’ll reap many rewards, but you’ll also face many challenges. However, if you’re fully devoted and committed to the world of NP, you’ll certainly have the successful career that you dream of.
