Within patient care, nurses can advance to clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist. These positions require 1 or 2 years of graduate education, leading in most instances to a master’s degree, or to a certificate.

According to a Hay Group survey of HMO’s, group practices, and hospital-based clinics, the median annual salary of full-time nurse practitioners was $64,500 in 2001, with an average low of $53,000 and average high of $79,400.

At the advanced level, nurse practitioners provide basic primary health care. They diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medication in most States.

In an effort to make health care available to as many people as possible, nurse practitioners work in both rural and urban settings, such as: hospitals and clinics, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes and Hospices, home health agencies, public health departments among others.

Caring and sympathetic.

Accept responsibility.

Direct or supervise others.

Follow orders precisely.

Determine when consultation is required.