Why Becoming a NP Is Worth It

This week’s blog post is part of a new series, called “Did You Know.” Each month, Ayondela, our resident Educational Liason, will contribute facts about the Nurse Practitioner industry to help you navigate this journey.

Becoming a licensed NP is not an easy task; NP students typically navigate between demanding coursework and clinical rotations, employment as well as family obligations. Despite the strenuous nature of NP programs, many NPs state the hard work is worth it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Nurse Practitioners or NPs is one of the fastest growing professions in the medical field.

NP Facts:

• The average annual salary for NPs is $72,487.
• Around 234,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed in the United States per year
• 1.02 billion estimated visits made to NPs annually
• According to U.S. News and World Report List of The 100 Best Jobs, the  NP industry, the role continues to attract attention and gain recognition for providing high-quality, patient-centered care for patients
• 23,000 new NPs graduated from programs in the 2015 – 2016 academic year
• An estimated 85.5% of new graduates have been trained in primary care
• By 2024, it is projected that the NP profession will grow by 35% (the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a great career choice, according to AANP CEO David Hebert states, “Nurse practitioners continue to be one of the solutions to America’s health care,” “As health care reform moves forward, nurse practitioners will be front and center.” More people are choosing NPs as their primary health care provider because NPs deliver a unique blend of nursing and medical care.  Both patients and other medical professionals credit NPs for more holistic treatment plans as well as educating patients, their loved ones and their communities about healthcare issues.

Choosing this career path allows for strides to be made in the medical community as a whole. Patients that may have not had easy access to healthcare now have the opportunity to be seen on a regular basis. Nurse Practitioners are a big part of the medical community and also part of the 10 newest remote job opportunities in the USA!

If you are looking to book your own rotations and jumpstart your NP career, download our free guide “The Ultimate Guide To Securing Your Own Rotations.”