Already a nurse practitioner? On your way to becoming one? Your career opportunities are virtually unlimited!

<p>
  Whether you&rsquo;re currently a nurse practitioner or on your way to becoming
  one, your career opportunities are virtually unlimited.
</p>

<p>
  There are more than 355,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the U.S. as of
  January 2022, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (<a
    href="https://www.aanp.org/practice/practice-related-research/research-reports"
    target="_blank"
    >AANP</a
  >). Imagine the diversity of roles all those NPs fill!
</p>

<p>
  Nationwide, NPs are serving in both clinical and non-clinical roles, in a wide
  array of facility types, and across all specialties and subspecialties. The
  versatility of the career is hard to beat. Plus, U.S. News and World Report
  ranks nurse practitioner as #1 in Best Health Care Jobs and #2 in 100 Best
  Jobs!
</p>

<p>
  Here, we&rsquo;ll cover several routes you can pursue as an NP through
  various:
</p>

<div class="container">
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Clinical roles</li>
        <li>Non-clinical roles</li>
      </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Work environments</li>
        <li>Career scheduling options</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<h2>Nurse Practitioner Clinical Roles</h2>

<p>
  Nurse practitioners have opportunities to practice across all fields of
  medicine &ndash; from general to highly specific. Plus, NPs can pursue
  certification in many of these specialties. Nurse Practitioner specialty
  certifications include:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC)</li>
  <li>Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC)</li>
  <li>
    Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG)
  </li>
  <li>Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification (ANP-BC)</li>
  <li>
    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC)
  </li>
  <li>
    Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (A-GNP),
    (AGPCNP-BC)
  </li>
  <li>Advanced Diabetes Management Certification (ADM-BC)</li>
  <li>Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification (ENP), (ENP-BC)</li>
  <li>Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP), (FNP-BC)</li>
  <li>Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Certification (GNP-BC)</li>
  <li>Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Certification (NNP-BC)</li>
  <li>Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (PPCNP-BC)</li>
  <li>Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC)</li>
  <li>
    Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan)
    Certification (PMHNP-BC)
  </li>
  <li>Women&rsquo;s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (WHNP-BC)</li>
</ul>

<p>
  For more information on pursuing the specialty certifications above, NPs can
  visit the various certifying organizations:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.aanpcert.org/" target="_blank"
      >American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program</a
    ><a href="https://www.aanpcert.org/" target="_blank"> </a>
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.aacn.org/" target="_blank"
      >American Association of Critical Care Nurses</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/" target="_blank"
      >American Nurses Credentialing Center</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.pncb.org/" target="_blank"
      >Pediatric Nursing Certification Board</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.nccwebsite.org/certification-exams" target="_blank"
      >National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and
      Neonatal Nursing Specialties</a
    >
  </li>
</ul>

<p>
  In addition to the specialties above, other clinical areas to consider are:
</p>
<div class="container">
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Allergy and immunology</li>
        <li>Cardiology</li>
        <li>Critical care medicine</li>
        <li>Dermatology</li>
        <li>Endocrinology</li>
        <li>Gastroenterology</li>
        <li>Hematology</li>
        <li>Hospitalist medicine</li>
        <li>Infectious disease</li>
        <li>Nephrology</li>
        <li>Neurology</li>
        <li>Oncology</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Ophthalmology</li>
        <li>Pain medicine</li>
        <li>Pathology</li>
        <li>Public health</li>
        <li>Pulmonology</li>
        <li>Rheumatology</li>
        <li>School nursing</li>
        <li>Sleep medicine</li>
        <li>Sports medicine</li>
        <li>Transplant medicine</li>
        <li>Trauma medicine</li>
        <li>Urology</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>
<h2>Nurse Practitioner Non-Clinical Roles</h2>
<p>
  Nurse practitioners aren’t bound to clinical roles and patient care. If NPs
  need to make a change to avoid burnout or mix things up a bit, they can get
  creative and pursue non-clinical opportunities like (<a
    href="https://www.nursingprocess.org/non-clinical-nurse-practitioner-jobs.html"
    target="_blank"
    >nursingprocess.org</a
  >):
</p>
<div class="container">
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Academic leadership/education</li>
        <li>Advocacy</li>
        <li>Clinical editing</li>
        <li>Clinical research</li>
        <li>Community food and housing</li>
        <li>Corporate consulting</li>
        <li>Emergency relief</li>
        <li>Healthcare administration/leadership</li>
        <li>Health ethnography</li>
        <li>Hospice administration</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Infection control</li>
        <li>Legal consulting</li>
        <li>Medical product research and design</li>
        <li>Medical product sales</li>
        <li>Medical writing</li>
        <li>Nutrition</li>
        <li>Pharmaceutical representation</li>
        <li>Politics</li>
        <li>Public speaking</li>
        <li>Technology development</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>
<h2>Nurse Practitioner Work Environments</h2>
<p>
  Although you may initially picture NPs working in hospitals and traditional
  healthcare facilities, they’re actually in all types of work environments. As
  an NP, you may find yourself practicing at an:
</p>
<div class="container">
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Academic research center</li>
        <li>Acute care clinic</li>
        <li>Ambulatory surgery center</li>
        <li>Ambulatory/transport care</li>
        <li>Cancer center</li>
        <li>College/university campus clinic</li>
        <li>Laboratory</li>
        <li>Inpatient hospital</li>
        <li>Government (VA, HIS, DOD, military)</li>
        <li>Home health</li>
        <li>Hospice/palliative care center</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <ul>
        <li>Otolaryngology</li>
        <li>Outpatient clinic</li>
        <li>Private practice</li>
        <li>Psychiatric facility</li>
        <li>Public or private schools</li>
        <li>Rehabilitation Center</li>
        <li>Skilled nursing facility</li>
        <li>Substance abuse center</li>
        <li>Telemedicine</li>
        <li>Trauma center</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<h2>Career Options for Nurse Practitioners</h2>
<p>
  Nurse practitioners aren’t locked into permanent, salaried, full-time
  positions, though that may appeal to some. Consider the many options you can
  choose from to help find a schedule and work-life balance that suits your
  lifestyle.
</p>
<ul>
  <li>Full-time or part-time</li>
  <li>Day shift, night shift, or weekends</li>
  <li>Salaried, permanent position or hourly, locum tenens assignments</li>
  <li>Nearby work or travel opportunities</li>
</ul>
<p>
  Which of the roles above can you see yourself in? What work environments would
  bring you the most fulfillment? Do you see yourself working part-time or full
  time? Working near home or traveling the country? Consider the many
  possibilities and picture yourself each scenario to decide which is the best
  fit for you!
</p>
<p>
  We’re here to help find the
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/job-search" target="_blank"
    >perfect NP position</a
  >
  for you!
</p>


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Career Options for Nurse Practitioners: A Top Job with a World of Opportunity!

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