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What are some pro and cons of being a Nurse practitioner?

What are some of the pros and cons for being a Nurse Practitioner? Can I specialize in pediatrics?

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Gloria’s Answer

As a Nurse Practitioner you can have a speciality such as; Pediatrics, Emergency, Psych, Family, Adult/Gerio and Women's Health. Some of the pros of being a Nurse Practitioner; the field continues to grow, fulfilling a great need in the medical community, job stability, only have to take the national license exam once, good pay and being able to work autonomously in some states. Some of the cons of being a Nurse Practitioner; different programs for each specialty, some states require a collaborating physician, no compact license (meaning you need a different license for each state you practice in). I will be more than happy to answer any other questions you have.
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Nailya’s Answer

Hi Zoa,

Yes, you can specialize in Pediatrics. There is a degree-Pediatric NP

In some states, nurse practitioners are more independent ; in some- there are more strict regulations in place that require you to have a contract with a physician, work within a certain mileage from your supervising doctor, and have doctors signature on your notes or prescriptions.

Your work satisfaction will depends on the kind of person you are and how much professional experience you have. If you are a free spirit , have a lot of experience, and feel confident, you probably will not enjoy significant restrictions imposed on your professional practice. It is a huge plus to have your colleagues-doctors near by but if you can't have your own clinic , prescriptions, etc., this may affect your ability to enjoy your profession.

Also, you need to remember that as NP, you are always "in the middle", between nurses and doctors. At times, this may be very confusing and stressful. In addition, there is a large gap between how much clinical doctors and clinical nurse practitioners make. Furthermore, before you become a nurse practitioner, I advise to gain solid experience as a nurse. Future doctors have rigorous long academic programs and structured residency and fellowship. In contrast, nurse practitioner-students have much less academic time and nurse practitioners are on "their own" when they come to clinics. Therefore, having clinical experience before you become a nurse practitioner, saves you a lot of stress, and tears.
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Courtney’s Answer

Hi Zoa. Yes you can specialize in pediatrics. You can apply into a family or pediatric program to care for this population.
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Monica’s Answer

Pros:
Part-time positions, balance work and family
Form S-Corp or LLC, lots of financial benefits
Travel opportunities

Cons:
Initial difficulty to chart on time
Complex cases
Expensive insurance, fees
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