Nursing is a role indelibly connected to the idea of service. Most individuals choose a nursing career because they want to assist others. Nurses conduct tests or assess patients’ medical history, and ensuring quality care is typically their top priority. Through experience, a nurse can understand the various aspects of the career and available specializations and their perks. Among other things, a lucrative salary is hands down one of the upsides of nursing.
Depending on your level of education and expertise, you can earn a higher salary in one specialty than another. To give you a better idea, we have put together some of the highest-paid nursing roles:
Clinical Nurse Specialist
In a healthcare setting, clinical nurse specialists are responsible for ensuring that patients receive high-quality care. Clinical nurse specialists have to react swiftly and make good decisions under pressure. This ability makes them an important member of the healthcare team and their role in identifying and treating various ailments.
In the future, more hospitals will hire clinical nurse specialists to bolster their staff because of the lower cost of their services compared to that of a doctor. The expected annual compensation for a clinical nurse specialist is approximately $108,000.
Nurse Midwife
Nurse-midwives undertake some of the most heartwarming tasks in the nursing field. They assist obstetricians in childbirth and other aspects of pregnancy care. Additionally, certified nurse midwives provide postpartum care and educate new moms. National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nurse-midwives attend about 300,000 births annually.
To become a nurse-midwife, you must undertake a master’s degree. However, you should also have strong communication skills to perform your duties efficiently. Besides, you will require leadership skills to make prompt decisions. Even without any experience, a nurse practitioner midwife salary range could be anywhere around $100,000 in your first year. The highest-paid nurses in the sector bring in an annual salary of more than $184,000.
Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner assists doctors and other health care providers in all areas of patient care, including consultation, diagnosis, and treatment. Depending on the convenience, they may operate individually or as a team member. Nurse practitioners can also work in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
These professionals typically specialize in maternal-child health, family practice, or pediatrics. Nurse practitioners also have the flexibility to work in various healthcare settings, including clinics, hospitals, and private practices.
Becoming a nurse practitioner guarantees a host of job opportunities and a hefty paycheck. Although it needs an MSN or DNP degree, the outcome is worthwhile. Compared to RNs, nurse practitioners make an average of $30,000 per year. The average annual salary for an NP is $116,173.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
This highly specialized job entails preparing and administering anesthesia to patients. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) collaborate with anesthesiologists, surgeons, podiatrists, dentists, and other certified healthcare professionals. To practice as a CRNA, you must have a master’s degree in nursing and a registered nurse license in the respective state.
Currently, the United States employs around 44,000 CRNAs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment rate of CRNAs is expected to rise by 45 percent between 2019 and 2029. The median annual compensation for CRNAs is $195,610, making it the highest-paying nursing specialty. CRNAs work an average of 40 hours per week, resulting in hourly pay of $94.04.
Pain Management Nurse
As a pain management nurse, you can work in various medical settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, drug dependency clinics, sports rehabilitation centers, oncology clinics, staffing agencies, and fitness centers. They assist in identifying the source of a patient’s pain. These professionals also educate patients regarding pain management medication. A pain management nurse collaborates with physicians to get the best outcomes.
Eligibility for this role does not necessitate an advanced degree. However, you will require at least five years of experience as a registered nurse before practicing as a pain management nurse. Also, pain management nurses must continue taking courses to keep their state licenses current. The average annual salary for a pain management nurse is roughly $104,000.
The demand for nurses is high due to the versatility of the role, which allows them to work in a range of healthcare settings. As the population ages, we will need more individuals to fill the shoes of pain management nurses.
Nursing Director
Nursing directors possess management and leadership skills. They typically serve as a liaison between their staff and the doctors or other members of the healthcare team. Nursing directors create policies and procedures that assist the nursing staff in achieving their organizational objectives and improving the overall quality of the healthcare facility.
They also undertake responsibilities such as interviewing and onboarding new nursing staff members. These professionals must follow a budget while procuring supplies and making other financial decisions. An associate degree is a minimum requirement for this position. In addition, a nursing director must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and keep their nursing license up to date. It is also common for a nursing director to ascend through the ranks. The average salary for a nursing director is $94,862 per year.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) perform key tasks, including patient consultations, making diagnoses, formulating treatment plans, and prescribing drugs. When someone in the family is ill, injured, or otherwise not feeling well, an FNP is usually the first person the family reaches out to for help. FNPs also work in various settings because they are trained to care for patients of all ages.
As an FNP, you must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and then participate in a specialized training program. In most cases, they must also be certified in family practice by the American Board of Family Practice. Working in a clinical setting also necessitates the acquisition of a state license. An FNP can expect an annual salary of $117,000 on average.
Conclusion
Nursing has been a respectable profession for a very long time. The role of nurses is to provide efficient care alongside doctors and help patients get back on their feet after the debilitating effects of a severe illness. The need for nurses has skyrocketed lately, particularly in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. A pandemic like a Coronavirus put medical teams on the front lines to battle its debilitating impact. Nurses, more than doctors, are directly involved in the day-to-day care of patients, and there needs to be a strong desire and motivation to facilitate people that is essential for nurses to perform such roles. Financial compensations in the medical field are generally high. If you are strongly motivated to help people, a financially rewarding nursing career is a step in the right direction.
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