Nurse Practitioner Jobs are High in Demand, Growth, and Salary

Nurse Practitioner with PatientNurse Practitioners have high-responsibility jobs, working either independently or directly with a physician. They perform physical exams, set up patient care plans, prescribe medications and order medical tests. Read more about what a nurse practitioner does here.

Jobs Similar to Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses sound interchangeable for many that aren’t in the healthcare industry, but their primary roles vary greatly.

Registered nurses (RNs) treat and educate patients while assisting medical doctors. They maintain medical records, implement nursing care plans, and provide health maintenance and disease prevention advice. They cannot prescribe medications, diagnose illnesses, or practice independently (Nurse Practitioners can practice independently in about 25 states in the US).

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) have to work under the supervision of an RN. They cannot administer medications.  They monitor patients’ health and report their status to a doctor or an RN. They can change bandages, take blood pressure readings, and provide care to the patient in the form of bathing and dressing.

Nurse Practitioner Salary

The median annual wage for Nurse Practitioners in 2012 was $89,960. In comparison, the median pay for registered nurses was $65,470, physician assistants’ median was $90,930, and licensed practical nurses’ median pay was $41,540.

If you would like to be placed in a healthcare job within the United States, please fill out the form below or call us at 602-468-6300.

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Nurse Practitioner Jobs Most in Demand

While nursing and residential facilities use Nurse Practitioners, they are primarily employed by offices of physicians and other health practitioners, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. In the next ten years, the highest areas of growth for Nurse Practitioners are expected to be ambulatory health care services, offices of health practitioners, and offices of physicians.

Nurse Practitioner Job Growth

The predicted growth for Nurse Practitioner jobs is 34% between 2012 and 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rate is 309% percent higher than all other occupations.  The extraordinarily high job outlook for Nurse Practitioners is due to many factors, such as the increased number of individuals who will have access to healthcare due to the Affordable Care Act, a continually growing population, and changes in laws which are allowing Nurse Practitioners to perform more services.

Similar professions will also experience growth. Licensed Practical Nurses are predicted to experience a 25% growth, Physician Assistants’ jobs should increase by 38%, and Registered Nurses’ positions should grow by 19%.

Nurse Practitioner Job Opportunities in Arizona

Desert Medical Careers is currently staffing for Nurse Practitioner jobs in Anthem, Peoria, North Phoenix, Central Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Queen Creek, and West Phoenix.

Read more about Desert Medical Career’s current Nurse Practitioner job openings.

Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm

http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/75/Nurse_Practitioner

http://nursingschool.chartercollege.edu/rn-or-nurse-practitioner

http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_resources/information_for_clinicians/nursing_services/frequently_asked_questions