A pediatric nurse practitioner is an advancedpractice registered nurse who has either completed a master’s program in nursing or a doctoral degree program. Their main role is to provide care and treatment to children from as young as newborns to young adults. They also have to interact and communicate with family members of all ages. These medical professionals are trained to diagnose illness, preform annual checkups and prescribe medication, as well as consult clients alongside their family members and apply for patient testing.
This highly specialized and varied role gives a fantastic opportunity for registered nurses to progress. It puts them in a position that is extremely close to that of a doctorwhile continuing to care and have close relationships with their patients, as well as the other things they love as a nurse. If you are on the fence about studying nursing or continuing your study to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, then here are sevenreasons why you should consider it.
You Get to Work with Kids
According to the AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners), around 60 percent of nurse practitioners will choose to specialize in family practice, while only 5 percent choose to specialize in pediatric primary and acute care. This is a very small percentage, which is crazy considering all of the benefits that come from working with children. Due to the small number of people choosing to specialize in this field, there is a very high demand for pediatric nurse practitioners. However, the best and most rewarding part of this role is that you can be the one to make a difference to a child’s life, as well as their family.
It Improves Your Education
Whether you choose to work in mental health, women’s health or a pediatric environment, all nurse practitioners must have an MSN.There are many ways you can study to obtain this, like through online pediatric nurse practitioner programs.There are many advantages to online pediatric nurse practitioner programs because you can study in your own time alongside work and family commitments. A pediatric nurse practitioner will also need to be certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. This means that you will gain an advanced degree, as well as a specialized certification. This will be respected in all settings that focus on health care. These credentials will give you the privilege to:
- Diagnose patients
- Perform evaluations
- Prescribe medications
These are all essential to pediatric care.
Your Salary Will Increase
An increase in pay tends to follow you once you have a higher education and become specialized in a particular field. The mean salary for a nurse practitioner working full time will be around six figures (according to the AANP). The competitive wages you can receive are high due to your degree and certification, which means that your advanced education would be worth the time and money compared to that of other medical professionals. In the United States, there is currently a shortage when it comes to primary care. This means that many medical systems and hospitals will actually pay for certain full-time registered nurses to study and become a nurse practitioner.
Chance to Improve Personal Skills
To become a successful pediatric nurse practitioner, you will need to have a number of skills and attributes in order to succeed. Although education to the correct level is essential, there are some things you won’t learn in the classroom but must have to succeed. Nurse practitioners will require a multitude of skills and attributes, like:
- Mental and physical endurance
- Enthusiasm, advocacy, empathy, and optimism
- Fantastic communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Fast responses and problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
You Will Always Be Busy
Most nurse practitioners will see over three patients per hour. If you tend to get bored easily and don’t enjoy watching the clock, then this field will be perfect for you. You will be on your feet for most of the day, so make sure you invest in some comfortable footwear to make this part of your job easier. The field of a pediatric nurse practitioner is constantly changing, so they will constantly seek extra training and certifications to keep up with the changes. There is also a huge range of environments that will allow you to work there and there are several ways a nurse practitioner can specialize in these fields, so you will always be kept busy.
You Can Open Your Own Practice
In some states, being a nurse practitioner means you can open up your own private practice. There are presently 22 states that permit full practice autonomy. This means that nurse practitioners will be allowed to practice without having to be supervised by a physician.Owning your own practice will come with a lot of responsibility and you will have to put in the time and research to ensure you set it up correctly. However, there are many advantages that come with being your own boss and having full control. In the medical community, there is a significant push for more independence for nurse practitioners throughout the United States to help address the extreme shortages in care.
There is a Huge Demand
As mentioned before, in the United States, there is a big shortage of primary care. The AANP states that there is a high demand for pediatric nurse practitioners and this demand is always rising. They have also said that their role may be the answer to a future physician shortage. It is thought that this profession will grow a lot quicker compared to others due to this huge demand. Just like any career, some nurse practitioners will be needed more than others, and this will vary amongst areas. However, if you want to ensure you have a secure job for the rest of your life, then you should definitely look at becoming a nurse practitioner.
The role of a nurse practitioner isn’t easy, but what comes alongside it will be extremely rewarding. There are many reasons you should look at specializing in the field of a pediatric nurse practitioner. These reasons can benefit you as well as others, but you need to make sure this will be right for you before you take that step.
