Nursing Career Path

Nurse Midwives earn a median of $103,770 annually¹

Research Nurse earn an average reported base pay of $92,267 as of April 2019²

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner’s earn a median annual salary of $107,030 as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)³

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners earn a median annual salary of $107,030 as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)⁴

Nurse Anesthetists earn a median annual salary of $167,950⁵

Family Nurse Practitioners earn a median annual salary of $107,030 as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)⁶

Registered Nurses earn a median annual salary of $78,390⁷

Licensed Practical Nurses earn a median annual salary of $46,240⁸

Nursing Career Snapshots

Master’s Level Nursing Careers

Nurse Midwife:

Nurse Midwives work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to birthing centers, to provide specialty care to women throughout all stages of pregnancy and the child birthing process.

• Degree Requirements: Master’s Degree in Nursing
• Career Outlook: Employment of nurse midwives is projected to grow 21 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.⁹
• Work Environment: Hospital, Physician’s Practice, Community Health Organization, Birthing Center

Family Nurse Practitioner:

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are specialized Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APRNs) that are qualified to provide both primary and specialty care to both children and adults. FNPs diagnose patients, develop and assess treatment plans for both acute and chronic medical conditions, and prescribe medication. FNPs also counsel patients in health-related matters such as preventative care, lifestyle choices, mental health, and disease management.

• Degree Requirements: Either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
• Career Outlook: Employment of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) is projected to grow by 31 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is significantly higher than both the growth of all other occupations as well as many other careers in the medical field.¹⁰
• Work Environment: hospital, clinic, outpatient care centers, physician’s office, educational institutions, private home

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner:

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs) are specialized Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APRNs) that focus on supporting women’s health including (but not limited to) adolescence, pre- and post-partum care, gynecological care, and menopause.

• Degree Requirements: Either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
• Career Outlook: Employment of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) is projected to grow by 31 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is significantly higher than both the growth of all other occupations as well as many other careers in the medical field.¹¹
• Work Environment: hospital, OB/GYN office, family planning clinic, women’s health clinic, Planned Parenthood clinic, prenatal care clinic, educational institutions, women’s prison

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AG-ACNPs) are specialized Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APRNs) that focus on supporting the health of older and elderly patients. Doing so includes tasks such as monitoring acute and chronic conditions, conducting diagnostics, evaluating patient histories, prescribing medication, and actively monitoring and adjusting patient care plans.

• Degree Requirements: Either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
• Career Outlook: Employment of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) is projected to grow by 31 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is significantly higher than both the growth of all other occupations as well as many other careers in the medical field. The aging “Baby-Boomer” generation will particularly increase the demand for AG-ACNPs¹²
• Work Environment: hospital, intensive care unit (ICU), physician’s office, clinic, outpatient care center, nursing/retirement home, assisted living community, hospice

Research Nurse:

Research nurses are qualified to perform a variety of roles in the field of medical research. This includes studying diseases, performing clinical trials, observing patients of clinical trials, analyzing the results of clinical trials, and compiling research from medical journals.

• Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Career Outlook: Employment of Registered Nurses (which a Research Nurses are considered) is projected to grow by 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, This is a higher rate of growth than the total rate of growth for all other occupations and about on par with most other health diagnosing and treating practitioners¹³
• Work Environment: university, pharmaceutical company, research organization, government health organization

Nurse Anesthetist:

Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia to patients, monitor patients’ vital signs while they are anesthetized, and supervise patients’ recoveries from being anesthetized.

• Degree Requirements: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
• Career Outlook: Employment of Nurse Anesthetists is projected to grow by 16 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is higher than the growth of all other occupations, but less than other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).¹⁴
• Work Environment: hospital, physician’s office, outpatient care center, dentist office

Bachelor’s Level Nursing Careers

Registered Nurse:

Registered Nurses (RNs) assess patients, record medical information, administer treatment, assist in diagnostic testing and analysis, and educate patients about treatment and care.

• Degree Requirements: Either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Career Outlook: Employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow by 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is higher than the growth of all other occupations, but less than other health diagnosing and treating practitioners¹⁵
• Work Environment: hospital, physician’s office, clinics, military, residential care facility, nursing/retirement home, school, private home, outpatient care facility

Entry-Level Nursing Careers

Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are basic medical care providers responsible for tasks such as monitoring basic vital signs, keeping patient records, reporting patients’ statuses to doctors and registered nurses, and attending to patients’ basic needs and comforts.

• Degree Requirements: Completion of a state-approved certification program
• Career Outlook: Employment of Licensed Practical Nurses is projected to grow by 12 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is higher than the growth of all other occupations, but less than other health diagnosing and treating practitioners¹⁶
• Work Environment: hospital, nursing/retirement home, assisted living community, physician’s office, clinic, outpatient facility

Sources