Earning an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian University opens a world of possibility for students. Not only can you sit for the NCLEX-RN and start a rewarding career as a registered nurse, but you can also use your BSN to pursue graduate programs in order to become an advanced practice nurse.
What are some advanced practice nursing jobs? Take a look:
- Nurse Practitioner: These advanced practice nurses are educated at the master's level or higher. As an NP, you can diagnose illnesses and enact treatment plans. In most states, you are able to prescribe medications to your patients. The mean annual wage for nurse practitioners in May of 2012 was $91,450.
- Nurse Anesthetist: As you might expect from the name, a nurse anesthetist is trained to administer anesthesia to patients. Working alongside anesthesiologists, surgeons or dentists, you would monitor vital signs and help patients recover from anesthesia. In this career, you would be among the highest paid nurses with a mean annual wage of $154,390.
- Nurse Educator: If you're earning your BSN, you know what nurse educators do! Working as teachers who educate future nurses, many also still practice nursing. Some combine teaching with research. If you take the path to becoming a nurse educator, you will have to remain up-to-date on developments in the nursing field and can expect a mean annual salary of about $68,640.
- Nurse Midwife: A nurse midwife has specialized training in providing support to mothers and coordinating all parts of the birthing process. Working closely with an OB-GYN or independently, you would be an integral part of the planning and execution of the health plan for a new mother. Nurse midwives made a mean annual salary of $91,070 in May 2012.
We're proud to say that some of Marian University's accelerated nursing students have earned their BSN and are now studying to become advanced practice nurses. Watch for their stories on our blog in the coming weeks.
If you have a passion for caring for patients and love to learn, choosing to continue your education and become an advanced practice nurse may be for you. Ready to start your journey? Contact us today.