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healthcare jobs, job hunting, locum tenens, looking for a job, NP jobs, nurse practitioner, nurse practitioner jobs
One of the most rewarding jobs in healthcare is that of a Nurse Practitioner. Because they have completed either a Master’s or a Doctoral degree, nurse practitioners (NPs) earn a higher salary and have more responsibility than a registered (RN) or advanced registered nurse (ARN). Approximately 2.6 million nurse practitioners are employed in the U.S., making it the largest healthcare occupation.
Nurse practitioners work with patients on prevention, wellness, and patient education. They take medical histories, perform physical exams, order and interpret tests, determine diagnoses, provide treatment and write prescriptions. An NP can be a patient’s primary care doctor or may work alongside a physician.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, current NP employment opportunities are excellent, and are forecasted to increase by 7% in the next ten years as baby boomers age. Some areas of the country report a shortage in nurse practitioners. Depending on geographic area, NPs earn very good salaries. The median nurse practitioner salary in 2011 was $89,692. Some NPs earn as much as $113,000. A nurse practitioner working in a family medical practice earns between $51,500 and $98,000. Advanced registered nurse practitioners’ salaries are between $64,200 and $84,530.
Money Magazine ranked nurse practitioners as fourth in its list of the best jobs in the U.S. in 2009. Their ranking was based on the abundant opportunities for NPs in hospitals, urgent care centers and private practice. There is much need in the specialty areas of oncology and women’s health, and jobs are also available in teaching and medical research.
The states with the highest salaries for nurse practitioners are (in order of ranking) California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maryland and New Jersey.
There are many job placement services for nurse practitioners. All Healthcare Jobs posts job openings from all over the U.S. Barton and Associates specializes in recruiting locum tenens, or temporary NPs to work in hospitals during shortages. Nurse Practitioner Jobs specializes in employment for NPs in hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
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