Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Starting Salary
Pediatric Nurses spend time with children anywhere from infancy to teenagers. In this position, you have the opportunity to work with young people helping them evaluate and maximize their health. This can be a very fulfilling career because you are helping children become happier and healthier every day. Pediatric Nurses only go to school for two years to earn their associate’s degree. If you want to become more specialized and gain a higher education than a pediatric nurse, you should consider becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Going back to school will give you the chance to learn more about this exciting career. It will also make you more valuable in the job market—the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner’s starting salary is higher, on average, than an uncertified Pediatric Nurse.
What is the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner’s Starting Salary?
There are many benefits of going back to school after becoming a pediatric nurse. Most figures have Pediatric Nurses earning a starting salary around $40,000. This is a high wage for someone who only attended two years of schooling, but with two to four more years of schooling, the starting salary increases significantly. Some statistics show that the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner’s starting salary is about $80,000 and can be more than $100,000 depending on prior experience and where the position is within the country. If you are a Pediatric Nurse who is seeking to further her education and earn a little more money, or if you are thinking about future career options, you should consider becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
What does a Pediatric Nurse Do?
If the higher salary and higher specialization of a PNP makes you interested in this highly specialized field, you should know the tasks and responsibilities that are required of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. A PNP is not limited to small children and teenagers. They often work with people of all ages. They often form serious relationships with their clients because they work with them over a long period of time. PNPs are expected to be able to diagnose diseases and decide on treatment options, prescribe medications, perform checkups on patients to ensure sustained healthiness, teach patients how to help themselves to be healthier, and do other tasks that make sure that the individual patient is cared for. As a Pediatric Nurse, you will also become more specialized. This can be done through internships at hospitals and additional schooling. Depending on your chosen area of specialization, you will have the opportunity to earn a higher wage and be more useful to your patients.
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner’s starting salary is very high compared to the starting salaries of most positions, including a Registered Nurse. But the salary of a PNP is only one of many reasons to enter into this career field. You will have the amazing opportunity to help people feel better about themselves every day of their lives. You can use your knowledge to help others better their standard of living. If you want to make a real difference in this world, you should start on the path of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner today!
