U.S. News and World Report has ranked the nurse practitioner, also known as an advanced practice registered nurse, as No. 2 of the 100 Best Jobs. The median salary for a nurse practitioner is $98,190, with a 0.7% unemployment rate and some 45,000 expected openings in the United States, making it one of the most in-demand jobs on the market. Nurse practitioners have many of the same capabilities as physicians, such as performing physical exams, prescribing medicines, and authorizing treatments.
From the news outlet: “Over the next decade, health officials are projecting a severe shortage of health care professionals, brought about by health reform and an aging baby boom generation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2024, the field will grow by 35 percent, opening up a whopping 44,700 new positions. This growth rate is five times the national average for all occupations, making job security for nurse practitioners very good.”
Photo by Will Kirk