What Nurse Specializations Earn The Most?
Nursing has become one of the most in demand professionals worldwide. The ratio between the number of nurses and patients in the United States allows other people to have an opportunity to get a job in this field.
As of present, only 2,927,000 nurses are available to address the health issues in the country. As can be seen, for every 10,000 individuals in the country, only 98 nurses are capable of providing care. (1)
Nurses, like doctors, can further their studies and qualifications by undergoing specialized training programs. This does not only make it easier for them to get a job, but it also makes their salary grade higher.
Listed below are the top 5 paying nursing specializations:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRNAs, also known as nurse anesthetists, are trained to administer various types of anesthesias to patients. They work in close collaboration with surgeons, doctors, and anesthesiologists. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, nurse anesthetists are one of the oldest specializations among nurses.
Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists have a median annual pay of $133,000. Additionally, the American Association of Nurse Anaesthetists estimates that the profession will grow by about 25% in 5 years. (2)
How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist?
Becoming certified nurse anesthetists is no easy task. It requires years of education and training, and even then one would still need to pass various certifications before they can be allowed to practice this profession.
The first step in becoming one is to finish a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and pass the licensure exam for registered nurses. After a year of acute care experience, the individual would then be allowed to enroll in a graduate program in nursing or anesthesiology.
Finally, he or she would then be required to pass the board certification in anesthesia which is administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
General Nurse Practitioners
“A registered nurse who has acquired the expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical competencies for expanded practice, the characteristics of which are shaped by the context and country in which s/he is credentialed to practice. A master’s degree is recommended for entry level.”
–A description by the International Council of Nurses on Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners are some of the most advanced and regarded nurses in the field. They are tasked to decide on more pressing matters when it comes to examinations, treatments, and after care. More specific job descriptions for these nurses include the following:
- Management, evaluation, treatment, and diagnosis of various acute and chronic diseases
- Conducting physical examinations on patients and obtaining the medical history
- Asking for diagnostic imaging
- Performing a limited range of diagnostic studies
- Requesting various types of rehabilitation treatments for patients such as physical and occupational therapy.
- Prescribing drug for various diseases in accordance with state regulations.
- Providing prenatal care and family planning services
The average pay of a general nurse practitioner is around $97,990 annually. GNP’s are expected to increase by about 34% in the coming five years. (3)
How to Become a General Nurse Practitioner?
The first requirement in becoming a nurse practitioner is obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing or other related undergraduate degrees. They are then required to pass the licensure examination for registered nurses.
He or she must then have an adequate nursing experience before they enroll for either a master’s degree or a doctorate in health related courses. The individual must then take the national board exams for nurse practitioners before finally taking certification exams as required in the state in which she resides.
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Gerontological Nurses are trained to cater to the needs of elderly members of the society. Their job requires them to have a high degree of patience and understanding for their patients. Their main purpose is to improve the quality of life of elderly patients.
It was previously called geriatric nursing but was changed to gerontological nursing to better describe the functions of their job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median pay for a Gerontological Nurse is around $95,070.
How To Become a Gerontological Nurse?
A candidate in gerontologist nursing is required to register in a bachelor’s degree in nursing or an associate in practical nursing. The individual is then required to take up a graduate program in gerontological nursing before finally passing the board examination for nurse practitioners and state imposed certifications for gerontological nursing.
Pain Management Nurses
PMN’s specialize in dealing with patients who experience various types of chronic pains, and patients who underwent surgery. They help determine the cause of the pain and how to best deal with it. The average annual pay for PMN’s is estimated to be around $90,000.
How to Become a Pain Management Nurse?
Pain management nurses are required to go through two stages of education. First is they are required to take up a bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass the board exams for registered nurses. Secondly, they would then have to take up a master’s or doctorate’s degree in nursing.
Finally, they are required to take the national board certification for nurse practitioners, and state imposed certifications for pain management nurses.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Nurses who are interested in the field of mental health often train to become a certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. They work alongside psychiatrists to help treat mental disorders and administer medicines to psychiatric patients. The estimated pay of a Psychiatric Nurse is around $90,376 annually.
How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
The requirements in becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner are similar to other nurse specializations. They are required to take the same bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass the registered nurse board exams.
They are then expected to have at least a year of nursing experience before taking a master’s or doctorate in nursing or related courses. Finally, they are required to pass both the nationally administered board exams for nurse practitioners and their respective state imposed certification exams.
No nurse specialization is above the other. However, when choosing a specialization, you must take the most consideration for what your passion is. The wage and salary should only be secondary criteria when choosing a job. Lastly, ask you state’s nursing board for more specific requirements for each specialization.
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