The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses- Carolyn Jarvis\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you are interested in pursuing a career in nursing, then congratulations.\u00a0 You’re taking a courageous next step.\u00a0 Nursing is both the biggest healthcare profession in the US and one that is in highest demand.\u00a0 We need nurses more than ever before.\u00a0 Nurse practitioners jobs are growing at a rate of 26% which is much higher than the national average. In fact, it is projected that 62,000 new nurse practitioner jobs will be added between 2018 and 2028.\u00a0 This is all according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.<\/span> Skip To:<\/strong><\/p>\n Fortunately for nurses there’s an opportunity to both pursue a meaningful career as well as a career that pays well. Having financial security can also greatly impact your overall wellbeing.\u00a0 It appears as though nursing has the opportunity to provide a number of positive benefits.\u00a0 So, if you are interested in pursuing a career in nursing then go for it.\u00a0 The positive benefits certainly outweigh the cons to nursing.\u00a0 To really make the most of your calling as a nurse why not pursue a career as a high-paid nurse.\u00a0 In many cases the schooling is not much longer and may increase your annual income by $20,000 or more.\u00a0 In fact the average median salary of a nurse practitioner is $115,800 per year and many advanced practice nurses have the freedom to go into practice for themselves- another added bonus to pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In fact there are dozens of specializations in advanced practice nursing that lead to even higher incomes than the one we mentioned above. Many of these require specializations in specific areas and while all are high-paying and lucrative some pay better than others.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In this guide, we’ll look at the various lucrative careers in nursing, how people initiate a career in these areas, degrees in the field (including different specializations), and explore applicable content we’ve already created. Before we dive in, let’s consider your history, traits, and personal career goals:<\/span><\/p>\n Keep these questions and considerations in mind as you explore this resource:<\/b><\/p>\n Whether you have initiated your career or not, take stock in what you have already achieved.\u00a0 It could be in high school, college or in an entirely different career. What are the highlights from these moments? What activities gave you a strong sense of purpose in life?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is your highest level of education? Do you have the resources right now to return to school? How many more years do you think you can devote to furthering your education?\u00a0 Think<\/span> Medicine and healthcare is a varied field and is often interdisciplinary for example healthcare and technology or biomedical engineering.\u00a0 Have you been able to narrow down your passions? It’s good to have a focus when pursuing a career or a new career as this helps to minimize wasted time and maximize your time spent pursuing a career that is a good fit for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you need to go back to school or is there another path towards this career that would work better for you? Though not common in the field, some professions offer on-the-job training that functions similarly to an associate’s degree with a more hands-on approach. It’s always a good idea to look into associate’s programs if you do not have a lot of time to commit to further training.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to work as an advanced practice nurse, remember it takes about 4-6 years to achieve this. Do you have the time to commit to this career path? If you have a degree in a field other than biology do you have the necessary prerequisite classes needed to enter a nurse practitioner master’s degree?<\/span><\/p>\n Are you interested in psychiatric nursing or midwifery? Do you have the patience to work alongside populations that think and act differently?\u00a0 Are you inspired by women’s reproduction? Do you feel like you could make a difference in the lives of women? Can you be open-minded and positive even when things may feel challenging or parents and other care-givers are not being team-players?\u00a0<\/span> OK, let’s move on to some of the most lucrative nursing degrees and careers:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In this next section we’ll take a look at some of the highest paying jobs in nursing. Nurse practitioners are the highest-paid nursing professionals. That being said there are some nurse practitioner specializations that outshine the rest when it comes to pay. Let’s take a look:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists made a median annual salary of $174,790. . The job outlook for the 2018-2028 period is 26% which is much faster than the national average. Though nurse anesthetists working in private practice can make up to $300,000 annually.\u00a0 Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses who have completed a graduate-level specialized certification. \u00a0 They may assist other physicians such as surgeons or anesthesiologists. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia, monitor vital signs and oversee patient’s recovery from their procedure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nurse practitioners made a median salary of $115,800 as of 2019. The projected job growth for a nurse practitioner between 2018 and 2028 is 26% which is much faster than the national average. Nurses learn about their clients’ medical history and then use a variety of methods to assess their patients.\u00a0 Some medical examinations may be observation based or they may be one through ordered labs . The nurse practitioners may also create treatment plans. Many states allow nurse practitioners to write prescriptions. Nurse practitioners often provide primary care and in many cases will provide care in the place of a doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for a nurse midwife is $108,810.\u00a0 This position has a projected growth rate of 26% which is faster than the national average which is 5%. Similarly to a nurse practitioner, a nurse midwife must also assess, diagnose and treat patients.\u00a0 However, the nurse midwife must work to advocate for a pregnant woman at a hospital and may deliver babies, mitigate emergency situations at a hospital and often act as maternity care providers for new mothers.\u00a0 The nurse midwife essentially cares for women throughout the entire pregnancy, birth, and transition into parenthood.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A psychiatric nurse practitioner is a registered nurse practitioner with a specialization in mental health. The average salary for a psychiatric nurse practitioner is approximately $105,000 per year though it is common to make more or less depending on your experience and location. A psychiatric nurse may provide psychotherapy in addition to medication.\u00a0 Some of the disorder that a psychiatric NP may treat include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorder, and dementia. There is a large educational component to this position that requires a lot of excellent communication skills.\u00a0 Take a further look at necessary soft skills of a psychiatric nurse practitioner below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n A clinical nurse leader is part nurse and part administrator and is the person responsible for overseeing the medical care of patients.\u00a0 The clinical nurse leader will oftentimes delegate responsibilities at the clinical level.\u00a0 A CNL will often supervise the patient’s care and ensure that patients receive appropriate care. The CNL evaluates patient’s risks as well as outcomes.\u00a0 The role of CNL was designed because of the high levels of human error that occur\/ed in hospitals and other patient facilities. A CNL also provides mentorship for the nursing staff. This is a leadership position that also requires advanced practice skills. The median salary is not currently listed on the BLS but a CNL should expect to earn between $90,000 and $120,000 a year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n The average salary for a NICU RN is $102,487 according to ZipRecruiter. The NICU RN position is on the rise partially due to the rising number of premature births.\u00a0 To advance in this position it is necessary to become certified as a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP). The job can be intense for many as this position requires caring for premature or sick newborns who are placed in intensive care. The NNP must learn to operate and monitor specialized equipment such as incubators, communicate and provide education to families regarding neonatal care, form diagnostic tests and dispense medications.\u00a0 As you can likely imagine, this position requires a number of soft skills.<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As you may have guessed a pain management nurse works with patients who experience pain whether than be after a surgery or chronically.\u00a0 According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a pain management nurse is $101,916.\u00a0 Due to an increasingly aging population our need for pain management nurses will likely continue to rise.\u00a0 Chronic illness is also on the rise and often contributes to a greater need for pain management specialists.\u00a0 Pain management nurses often work as part of a team and often advocate on behalf of the pain patient to obtain pain relieving medications.\u00a0 A pain management nurse may also help to advocate for alternative forms of therapy that help to minimize pain including yoga, acupuncture, massage, and other forms of therapeutic exercises.<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A family nurse practitioner works either in private practice or with other healthcare providers to provide care across the lifespan with a focus on a family.\u00a0 The FNP may work with patients experiencing acute or chronic illness.\u00a0 Much like a primary care provider a FNP works closely with their patients across the lifespan. The FNP will typically consult with a patient, seek to diagnose the patient and then treat the patient often using prescription medications.\u00a0 According to payscale.com, the median salary for a FNP is $94,000 a year. Though the annual salary for a FNP may increase depending on where they are practicing.\u00a0 A family nurse practitioner who is working in private practice may earn well over $100,000 annually.\u00a0 This position is on the rise growing at a rate of 31%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing administrator makes an average of $100,980 a year.\u00a0 This position is a behind-the-scenes position that coordinates the business of healthcare as well as the nursing staff.\u00a0 The right candidate for a job will have experience in an administrative or clinical role. This role is responsible for the efficiency of the care administered in the healthcare facility. The nurse administrator will develop goals within the nursing department and oversee the nurses as well as provide some education and mentorship. A nurse administrator creates the work schedule as well as communicates with other members of the medical staff. Nurse administrators typically are advanced practice nurses looking to move into a more behind-the-scenes role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soft Skills<\/span><\/p>\n As you can see there are a number of opportunities for you to make a very good salary in the field of nursing.\u00a0 The degree, courses, and skills you learn in school make a significant difference. Here are some of your options:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you want to work as a speech therapist (SLP), occupational therapist (OT) or a board certified behavior therapist (BCBA), then you will need to pursue at least a master’s degree in the area of your choice.\u00a0 All BCBAs undergo training in applied behavior analysis which is a master’s degree program that includes course material on behavioral science as well as a lengthy clinical period.\u00a0 Similarly, an SLP will need to complete coursework in audiology as well as a supervised clinical period. The occupational therapist will also need to do the same. These programs including their supervised period typically take just 2-3 years to complete.\u00a0 Finally, all looking to become certified must pass their examinations.\u00a0 These degrees are a fantastic choice for individuals looking to pursue a high-paying medical career.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Healthcare management careers require an MBA.\u00a0 Business administration programs typically include a core set of course material along with a specialization.\u00a0 Look for programs that specialize in healthcare management and informatics.\u00a0 All MBA candidates take micro and macro economics courses along with ethics and of course management and leadership courses. This is a good option for individuals who are looking to be in the field of medicine but have found that their skills lie more heavily in leadership, management, and budgeting and planning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most schools don’t actually offer a “pre-med” degree but there are a number of degrees that lead to success in medical school.\u00a0 Many students looking to become medical students pursue undergraduate degrees in the biological sciences.\u00a0 Others pursue undergraduate degrees in computational sciences and still others have success with a degree in the humanities.\u00a0 Philosophy majors tend to have higher success in med school as a lot of the program goes beyond the sciences and requires critical thinking as well as oral and written communication.\u00a0 No matter what your major be sure to have some experience with lab work as those are often prerequisites to med school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s a resource list from DegreeQuery to help set you up for success in a medical career.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Here at Degree Query, we’ve created a variety of content to help you determine a career path.\u00a0 We’ve answered common questions, provided in-depth guides about careers, ranked degrees on many metrics, ranked occupations, and much more. Here’s some of the work we’ve done that applies to working and studying in medicine and adjacent fields:<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nIf you are interested in the nursing profession chances are you are drawn to help others.\u00a0 Maybe you know that you can make a difference because there is just something about you that is calming, caring, and compassionate.\u00a0 It turns out that finding a career to match those interests may lead you to a happier and healthier life.\u00a0 Connecting what you do to a purpose has a significant impact on well being in the long term.\u00a0 Never lose sight of that when pursuing a career.\u00a0 The days of soulless jobs are over.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\nDo you already have some formal or informal training related to the field of nursing? Maybe you have experience assisting the elderly or working with children.\u00a0 Or perhaps you have taken CPR classes or classes on harm reduction or prevention that have been meaningful. How inspired were you by this training? Did it make you excited to do more or do you think that perhaps it wasn’t the best fit for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nAs you can see soft skills are important in the field of nursing which is why we will devote some attention examining which soft skills are essential for the profession.. That being said a number of the same soft skills are required for almost every medical profession!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the Highest Paying Jobs in Nursing?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Advanced Practice Nurse\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Nurse Midwives\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Clinical Nursing Leader<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse (NICU RN\/ NNP)<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Pain Management Nurse\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Family Nurse Practitioner\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Nursing Administrator\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Other Nursing positions that are high-paying:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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What Degrees Lead To Lucrative Nursing Careers?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nNursing Practice Degree\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Business Degrees<\/span><\/h3>\n
Pre-Med Degrees\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
How Can We Help You Find a Nursing Degree?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRankings<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Guides<\/span><\/h4>\n
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