As a little girl I used to admire my mother in her snow-white, starched, well ironed uniform; and hoped for the day I would work with her. On the rare occasions when I visited her at the hospital watching the doctors walking around with a group of student doctors was my favorite pass-time; and I would say to myself, one dayI will be in one those groups. While I still lived in my country, I finished high school and entered college with the intention of fulfilling my vision; but shortly thereafter I immigrated to the United States and changed my reverie. I decided to follow in my mother’s foot-steps and become a nurse, I completed my nursing education and changed my mind once again, this is my final choice, I want to be a nurse practitioner. This is a career that places me above a registered nurse and beneath a doctor.
Who and what is a nurse practitioner? A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in a particular field, for example he or she can be a nurse practitioner in pediatrics, or women’s health. Most states require a Master’s Degree before a nurse practitioner can practice. A nurse practitioner can diagnose medical problems, order and interpret tests, and in some states can prescribe medication for acute and chronic disease. Even though a nurse practitioner may acquire a Ph. D, he or she cannot perform any kind of surgery; that is solely done by physicians. Daniela Drake says that as more and more people become insured there is going to be a short fall of physicians and to bridge that gap nurse practitioners will be used. “By 2015, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States is expected to have a deficit of 62,000 physicians—and during subsequent years that gap will only get worse” (2013)
There is always a need in America for professional people; not so long ago there was a dire need for nurses; nurses were being recruited from everywhere, and everyone wanted to be a nurse, so much so the market became saturated. The demand for nurse practitioner is growing; and physicians are becoming more willing to work with them. For the next ten years people who are entering the nurse practitioner field will be sure of jobs after their training; more importantly, they will have their “pick of the litter.” Victoria Stagg Elliott says that by the year 2025, the number of nurse practitioners will double, especially those in primary care. Using modeling there is a prediction of ninety-four percent increase; the number will climb from 128,000 to 244,000 in 2025. Nurse practitioners will choose to practice patient care rather than administrative work; there will be an increase of that number from 86,000 in 2008 to 198,000 in twenty 2025. The forecast for nurse practitioner is favorable.
Recently, when one uses the computer or picks up his or her mail, more often than not he or she will find advertisements for higher education. Sometimes these advertisements come with information about the salary discrepancy between someone with a degree in oppose to someone without a degree; and schools are enticing prospective students with the earning capacity higher education can afford them. Compared to other fields the nurse practitioner with a Master’s degree, earns between ninety to ninety-five thousand dollars annually. Going by degree and qualification nurse practitioner is a lucrative career choice. Like any other profession there will be people who will decide to become a nurse practitioner, lured by the good salary it offers, and unfortunately, they will give the profession a bad name because they will be bad performers.
I aspired to becoming a doctor and since the time of my initial dream I have changed my mind twice, nonetheless, I stayed in the medical field; and to become a nurse practitioner is my final decision particularly now that the salary of a nurse practitioner exceeds those of others with
Master’s degree.
Work Cited
Drake, Daniela. (2013). “Nurse Practitioners Playing Doctor More Often.” Web. Access 9 July, 2013.
Stagg Elliott, Victoria. “Sharp increase expected in number of nurse practitioners.” (2012). Web. Access 11 July, 2013
