One of the hottest and fastest growing careers out there is nursing. Nurses are also pretty recession-proof because no matter what the economy is doing, there is a constant need for healthcare. With an advanced degree, an Emergency Nurse Practitioner is qualified to work in critical care units and emergency rooms. Here is what it takes to become an Emergency Nurse Practitioner.
What does an Emergency Nurse Practitioner do?
An Emergency Nurse Practitioner provides health care to patients in an emergency room setting. On a daily basis they provide medical support to patients dealing with everything from primary care issues to trauma. While typical doesn’t exist in the Emergency Nurse Practitioners vocabulary, their days may be comprised of ordering x-rays and scans for patients with trauma to their bodies, ordering labs and medication, consulting with a wide variety of physicians, and transferring patients to other units throughout the hospital or sending them home with their discharge papers.
Emergency Nurse Practitioners need to be able to think fast, make quick assessments and decisions, and work effectively amongst a wide array of personalities and people.
Salary and Job Outlook for Emergency Nurse Practitioners
Salary.com states that as of June 2016, Emergency Nurse Practitioners were earning a median salary of $103,199 annually. The range is between $95,913 and $114,812 but varying factors such as geographical location, experience, and where they are employed determine the Emergency Nurse Practitioners pay.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations and is expected to reach 31% over the next decade.