If you enjoy helping others manage their healthcare, consider earning your degree from one of the country's top online nurse practitioner programs. Not only can you advance your career, but you can also make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This graduate degree allows you to concentrate in your choice of specialties, like pediatrics, neonatal care, or adult gerontology, and prepares you to work in various settings. For example, you may opt to work in a physician's office, hospital, outpatient care center, government facility, private corporation, or nonprofit.
Critical thinking and communication skills along with an attention to detail and a keen sense of empathy will make you the ideal candidate for accredited nurse practitioner online programs. Completing coursework online means you can continue working in the field while earning your degree, so you can apply lessons learned in a real-world setting.
A career as a nurse practitioner can be rewarding and financially lucrative. The following tables show the income you can expect as a nurse practitioner. The first explores the states the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports pay the highest salaries for nurse practitioners. It also shows the number employed in each. The second table examines how annual pay varies due to experience based on PayScale data. It considers all levels of nurse practitioners, from those new to the career to those with decades in the field.
State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
---|---|---|
California | 13,570 | $126,770 |
Alaska | 440 | $122,580 |
Hawaii | 410 | $88,200 |
Massachusetts | 6,280 | $120,140 |
Connecticut | 2,220 | $118,500 |
United States | 166,280 | $107,480 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: PayScale
Graduates of the best online nurse practitioner programs find a wide variety of career options. They may work as neonatal nurses who provide primary, chronic, and acute care to infants and toddlers in an intensive care setting. Alternatively, they may provide comprehensive care for older adults, such as diagnosing and treating sickness, administering immunizations, and offering medical counsel. Regardless of the path, nurse practitioners must demonstrate leadership and genuine concern for people's well-being.
Annual Median Salary: $103,880
Projected Growth Rate: 36%
These experts offer advanced nursing care for patients. They manage patients' care by diagnosing illnesses, helping them integrate healthy practices into their lives, and empowering them to improve their overall health. Some nurse practitioners work with specific populations, such as older adults.
Annual Median Salary: $100,590
Projected Growth Rate: 21%
These professionals help women through family planning guidance, gynecological exams, and prenatal care. In addition, they deliver babies and help mitigate and address risks that arise during delivery. They may also assist doctors and serve as primary care providers for mothers and their newborns.
Annual Median Salary: $165,120
Projected Growth Rate: 16%
This expert administers anesthesia for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures as well as for pain management and emergency purposes. Nurse practitioners must communicate with patients, as they need to understand individuals' illnesses and allergies before administering anesthesia.
Annual Median Salary: $86,338
Projected Growth Rate: 15%
These professionals oversee patient care in specialty areas. For example, they may complete online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs to care for mental health patients. They often work with other nurses and healthcare staff to improve patient care and teach nursing staff.
While classes for online nurse practitioner programs vary depending on the school and specialty you select, most offer similar courses. The following are some you can expect to in any program.
You're about to search for degree programs related to a career that you are researching. It's important to recognize that a degree may be required for a career or increase your chances of employment but it is not a guarantee of employment when you complete your degree.
I understand a degree DOES NOT GUARANTEE A JOB OR CAREER UPON COMPLETION OF A PROGRAM