What are the alternatives to becoming a Nurse Practitioner?

Other nursing options at the master's degree level:

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)- This advanced practice nurse administers anesthesia in any setting that can accommodate anesthesia delivery, such as OR suites in the hospital or outpatient surgery centers.  CRNAs are essentially the nursing equivalent of medicine’s Anesthesiologist.  The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists states “there are numerous outcomes studies have demonstrated that there is no difference in the quality of care provided by CRNAs and their physician counterparts.” The ratio of men to women in this area of nursing is much closer, nearly 50-50. The salary income for CRNAs is also generally higher than that of NPs.

2. Certified Nurse Midwife- This is advanced practice nurse that provides prenatal care, post-partum care, and delivers babies.  Midwives generally provide labor and delivery care for mothers of low or non-risk pregnancies.  They also provide primary care services that may include birth control counseling, preventive health screening, and normal gynecological services such as pelvic and breast exams, pap smears, and in most states, nurse-midwives may prescribe medications.

3. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)- This advanced practice nurse is a clinical expert that continually works toward improving patient outcomes and nursing care. Daily duties:

* clinical practice (the assessment skills of a CNS are more focused than a nurse practitioner's because they tend to focus on a particular sub-specialty area, such as diabetes or oncology.

* research

* teaching

* consulting

* management

 

Other nursing degree options:

1. Although it may seem obvious to some, it is important to mention Registered Nurses (RN). This can be obtained by either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree (BSN). The RN page (coming soon) will discuss this option in great detail. An RN typically provides what has been termed "bedside nursing." This mean the nurse is frequently at the beside, responds to call bells, alarms, and has frequent ongoing patient interaction. Depending on work location, duties will vary, but will include patient assessment, medication delivery, obtaining lab specimens, developing a care plan, patient education, and so much more. Check back once the RN page is completed.

2. Of course, more education is also always an option. There are 2 main doctoral degree options for nurses: DNP and PhD. A clinical doctorate would be the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which essentially still leads to the role of an NP. For more information on this degree, see the DNP page. To become a nurse scientist, you will need a PhD. This degree trains you to produce original research by learning research methodology, measurement, analysis, dissemination. Nurses with a PhD engage in intellectual inquiry through research and can work in academic, governmental, and organizational settings. With a PhD or DNP you may also work as a nursing faculty member at a four-year university, although at some universities an MSN is sufficient, particularly for junior colleges.

 

Careers in the Medical Model:

1. Physician Assistant (PA)- This career is similar to the role of a Nurse Practitioner, however they have trained under the medical model and work with a supervising physician. PA education generally takes 2 years (pre-requisites for admission must be completed first). Upon graduation PAs are required to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Like NPs, PAs are becoming more autonomous in practice.

2. Physician- This requires a medical degree (MD), which takes 4 years (a bachelor's degree is generally required for admission). Specialization occurs after graduation from medical school, during residency. The duration of residency depends on the specialty chosen. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a 3-step process in order to become a fully licensed physician.

NEED HELP DECIDING WHICH PATH TO TAKE? VISIT OUR NURSING ADVICE CENTER TO LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES COMPLETELY INDIVIDUALIZED TO YOUR NEEDS AND QUESTIONS.