Working as a Doctor without Being a Doctor

Did you know that it is possible to do most of the same things that a doctor does without actually being a doctor? Indeed, it's true. You can actually work as a nurse practitioner and do much of the same work that doctors do. You won't be able to do quite as much of it as an actual doctor would, but you can do more than a registered nurse gets to do. Before you go through an entire degree program to become a doctor, you may want to look at the opportunities that will come from being an NP. Here is an overview of the career so you can decide if it fits your plans for the future.

Nurse Practitioner Industries

Nurse practitioners can work in many different industries, and they can take on different roles within each of those industries. Before you get involved with this career, you need to make sure you know where you want to work. There are so many options to choose from, and you may have to adjust your training to fit the one that interests you. Possibilities include:

• Family Medicine
• Geriatrics
• Healthcare
• Hospitalization
• Oncology
• Pediatrics
• Trauma

Select the one that is the most interesting for you, and you can adjust your college degree program to suit that decision.

Nurse Practitioner Job Benefits

You can get a lot of benefits as a nurse practitioner if you find the right employer to work under. Some of these are standard with any nursing job, but others are only reserved for upper-level employees like NPs. Listed below are some of the many job benefits you may look forward to in this profession.

• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• Education Reimbursement
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Malpractice and Liability Insurance
• Paid Holidays and Vacation
• Paid Sick Leave

Nurse Practitioner Degrees

In order to become a nurse practitioner, you really need a master's degree or higher. There are a few employers that will accept a bachelor's degree, but most of them want to see grad school training or higher in your background. Here are some of the degree programs you may look forward to on your way to being an NP:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Master of Science in Nursing
• Doctor of Nursing Practice

Nurse Practitioner Certifications

If you decide that you want to become a nurse practitioner, you will need to obtain a certification. This will verify that you are in fact capable of doing this kind of work. You can get one of these after you complete your degree program, and then you will be able to apply for jobs like you would any other time. Here are some of the certifications you may look into when you complete your education:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
• American Nurses Credentialing Center
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
• Critical Care
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Practice
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Pediatrics

Nurse Practitioner Salary

There are several factors that determine how much money you can make as a nurse practitioner. There is no doubt that you can make good money as an NP, but the specific amount you earn will be entirely up to the circumstances surrounding your life. Here is a look at how your salary may change in a few scenarios:

Salary by Experience

• Less than 1 year of experience: $59,335 - $86,215 per year
• 1-4 years of experience: $59,520 - $91,952 per year
• 5-9 years of experience: $59,969 - $97,079 per year
• 10-19 years of experience: $59,485 - $104,689 per year
• 20+ years of experience: $55,261 - $104,588 per year

Salary by State

• California: $69,317 - $109,467 per year
• Florida: $62,081 - $96,428 per year
• Georgia: $59,826 - $92,940 per year
• Illinois: $60,878 - $98,265 per year
• New York: $59,413 - $101,997 per year
• Tennessee: $51,942 - $89,144 per year
• Texas: $58,426 - $101,661 per year

Think hard about your future and determine if being a paralegal is in line with your goals. If so, you should be able to go through a quick degree program to start working in this profession.