- An advanced practice nurse practitioner provides health care services to family members. She may perform physical examinations, diagnosis and treat illnesses, injuries and conditions, as well as prescribe medications. She may emphasize healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. According to Salary.com, annual wages for nurse practitioners ranged from less than $76,958 to more than $102,392, as of April 2011. The middle 50 percent of nurse practitioners earned between $82,861 and $96,174, with a median annual income of $89,345.
- Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice nurses who specialize in nursing care to specific populations, conditions, settings, problems or types of care. They may provide direct nursing care or serve as consultants. Ten percent of clinical nurse specialists earned less than $73,100 per year, as of April 2011. The top 10 percent earned more than $102,122 per year. The median annual income for clinical nurse specialists was $87,432.
- Certified nurse midwives are advanced practice nurses who care for women, particularly before, during and after pregnancy, including labor and delivery. The safety and health of both mother and child are of paramount importance to nurse midwives, so they actively monitor the progression of the pregnancy and identify any need for additional medical services. Annual wages for a certified nurse midwife ranged from less than $76,959 to more than $106,430, as of April 2011. The middle 50 percent of nurse midwives earned between $83,551 and $98,977 per year. The median income for these advanced practice nurses was $90,791.
- A nurse anesthetist specializes in the alleviation of pain. She may prepare and administer local or general anesthetics to patients before, during and after surgical or other medical procedures. She works with a team of health care professionals and keeps them informed of any changes in the patient's condition while under the effects of the anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists are the most highly compensated of advanced practice nurses. According to Salary.com, the middle 80 percent of nurse anesthetists earned between $138,519 and $174,982 per year, as of April 2011. The median annual income for nurse anesthetists was $155,261.
- All advanced practice nurses are registered nurses, but not all registered nurses are advanced practice nurses. Registered nurses at all levels of education and experience from across the United States earned annual wages ranging from less than $43,970 to more than $93,700 in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual income for registered nurses in the U.S. was $63,750.
previous post