Internal Medicine Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
According to the recent surveys, the average salary of a nurse practitioner in internal medicine ranges from $50,000 – $90,000 annually. PayScale, a website dedicated in updating the recent salaries of various jobs in the United States gives a concrete picture about the thriving market of internal medicine advanced registered nurse practitioner. Aside from that basic salary, some employers would give bonuses starting off from $500 up to even $15,000. This may include night differential pay and holiday pay. The recipients of this amount of compensation are 93% females and 7% males. As the report tells, females would dominate this area of specialty. When talking about length of clinical experience, advanced nurse practitioners in internal medicine has an average background experience in nursing ranging from 10 years to 20 years. This means that being in this special field, it takes not just knowledge but practical skills that would send their career high on top among other members of the health care industry. Their pay may also differ depending upon the degree that advanced nurse practitioners have. Payscale’s report show that those who have finished Master of Science in Nursing with Major in Medical-Surgical could earn between $80,000 up to $90,000 yearly, while those who have finished Master of Science in Nursing get an average pay annually of $50,000 to $90,000.
Advanced nurse practitioners also enjoy benefits from the work they have rendered. Most of the time, their medical assistance is not questioned as well as in dental assistance. In cases that they are the ones hospitalized or even their nearest kin, hospitalizations and other medical expenses are covered under such agreement in the contract between the nurse and the employee.
Educational Requirements
Before being wowed of the potential income as an advanced nurse, a registered nurse must embark a journey in order to reach the status of being an advanced nurse practitioner. First of all, upon passing the licensure examination for nurses such as NCLEX-RN, nurses then could either acquire clinical experience in either acute or emergency care. Some may also proceed to degree programs such as Master of Science in Nursing. The advancement in such educational program focuses on concepts regarding internal medicine. They can even further concentrate in various branches of internal medicine such as rheumatology or hematology.
Upon finishing the degree, a regulatory body recognized by the American Nurses Association is responsible in giving exams and declare that a nurse is certified to be an advanced nurse practitioner. As their practice are coined to be advanced, they are expected to apply the nursing model rather than being supervised by the medical model used by doctors. The training they have received will enable the nurse to provide holistic care.
Aside from the knowledge base, an advanced nurse practitioner differs from its way of thinking and viewing the patient. Totality of care is the goal of advanced nurse practitioners.
These are the recognized certification body:
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center
- The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Scope of Practice
After being certified, advanced nurse practitioners can now freely exercise their expertise. They would always use the nursing process in delivering care. Comprehensive assessments are done and through the good knowledge base and pathophysiology, internal medicine advanced registered nurses can readily work independently or with collaboration with the physician with ease.
According to the American Nurses Association, an advanced nurse practitioner can work around these roles as allowed by the law:
- Conduct thorough assessments and screening tests. – Make a good record of important patient history, physical examination and findings
- Develop nursing diagnosis or differential diagnosis – Establish initial diagnosis alongside with plan of care appropriate for the patients
- Recommend diagnostic test or laboratory work-up – These are tests (blood and body fluids examination, Echocardiography or CT scans) congruent to the medical diagnosis
- Trained to perform therapeutic procedures- Advanced nurse practitioners in internal medicine are trained in order to be competent in performing procedures such as thoracentesis, paracentesis, lumbar puncture and the like.
- Practice prescribing medications regulated by the state they work in
- Perform life saving measures in times of crisis such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support, defibrillation or cardioversion and administration of emergency drugs.
- Promote health maintenance as well as teach modification of lifestyle and rehabilitation.
As advanced nurse practitioners can work independently, they also still work hand in hand with physician using the referral system.
Photo Credits: hospitalstaff.blogspot.com
Daisy Jane Antipuesto RN MN
Currently a Nursing Local Board Examination Reviewer. Subjects handled are Pediatric, Obstetric and Psychiatric Nursing. Previous work experiences include: Clinical instructor/lecturer, clinical coordinator (Level II), caregiver instructor/lecturer, NC2 examination reviewer and staff/clinic nurse. Areas of specialization: Emergency room, Orthopedic Ward and Delivery Room. Also an IELTS passer.
