3 answers
Raegan
Student
Bartow, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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What is the best field for a Nurse Practitioner?
There re a lot of fields to choose from, which one is the best?
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3 answers
Amanda Spino
Nurse Practitioner
5
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
Hi Raegan,
One of the great things about the NP profession is there are a lot of options to choose from. Most people spend at least a few years working as an RN to guide them in which option to choose. It really all depends on what type of patient population you enjoy and/or are passionate about caring for. It's also important to figure out what type of environment you like working in as this will also help guide your decision; hospital, clinic, urgent care, home health, etc.
Some things to note if you choose the Family NP specialty this does make you slightly more marketable when looking for a job because you are trained in patients throughout the lifespan, so you could get a job in primary care, pediatrics, OB, urgent care etc., although typically this will be in an outpatient setting. If you choose to go the Acute Care NP route you will likely work in a hospital setting or urgent care. Pediatric/ Neonatal NP will typically work in a hospital setting as well. Psychiatric NP role is on average the highest paid specialty, along with cardiac NP.
One of the great things about the NP profession is there are a lot of options to choose from. Most people spend at least a few years working as an RN to guide them in which option to choose. It really all depends on what type of patient population you enjoy and/or are passionate about caring for. It's also important to figure out what type of environment you like working in as this will also help guide your decision; hospital, clinic, urgent care, home health, etc.
Some things to note if you choose the Family NP specialty this does make you slightly more marketable when looking for a job because you are trained in patients throughout the lifespan, so you could get a job in primary care, pediatrics, OB, urgent care etc., although typically this will be in an outpatient setting. If you choose to go the Acute Care NP route you will likely work in a hospital setting or urgent care. Pediatric/ Neonatal NP will typically work in a hospital setting as well. Psychiatric NP role is on average the highest paid specialty, along with cardiac NP.
Kianna Warner, DNP, AGPCNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
2
Answers
Waltham, Massachusetts
Updated
Kianna’s Answer
Hi Raegen, I work as a nurse practitioner at a college, and I absolutely love it! The hours are usually steady and predictable, which is great if you want a good balance between work and personal life or have other dreams to pursue. You mainly work with young people, so the medical issues are often simple, and there's a big focus on teaching, prevention, and wellness. This can be really rewarding if you enjoy helping others develop lifelong healthy habits.
Sometimes, the range of cases can feel a bit limited. If you enjoy handling complex or varied situations, it might not always be as challenging. Also, the pay can vary quite a bit depending on the setting, and sometimes working within a big system (like a university) means things move slowly or involve more red tape than you'd like.
However, if you love connecting with young adults, value stability, and want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive setting, this could be a truly rewarding path! Wishing you the best in whichever career you choose.
Think about what you value most- Consider outpatient vs inpatient
Shadow in either outpatient or inpatient care- you may have experience in either a nurse, if not would work as a nurse in either sector
Apply to NP school- consider your program, either acute care, primary women's health mental health etc
If college seems interesting, may consider connecting with a college for your scholarly/end of the degree project as they typically welcome QI projects
Get experienced, connect with others, if it seems fitting then apply!
Sometimes, the range of cases can feel a bit limited. If you enjoy handling complex or varied situations, it might not always be as challenging. Also, the pay can vary quite a bit depending on the setting, and sometimes working within a big system (like a university) means things move slowly or involve more red tape than you'd like.
However, if you love connecting with young adults, value stability, and want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive setting, this could be a truly rewarding path! Wishing you the best in whichever career you choose.
Kianna recommends the following next steps:
Martin Schoen
APRN
325
Answers
Ocala, Florida
Updated
Martin’s Answer
There might not be a single "best" choice, but that's a good thing because it means you can follow your passions! If you enjoy a broad range of challenges, primary care or family medicine could be a great fit. Love spending time with older adults? Geriatrics might be perfect for you. If kids bring you joy, pediatrics could be the way to go. Interested in mental health? Consider psychiatry. Specialized fields like anesthesiology and nurse midwifery offer unique programs and rewarding paths, but are specialized programs. In primary care, you can even focus on areas like emergency medicine, oncology, or dermatology. Every medical field has exciting opportunities for nurse practitioners, so choose what makes you happy and what you’re great at!