GET TO KNOW THE RICHEST 15 NURSING SPECIALTY AND DECIDES IN TIME

If you’re an aspiring nurse or a student nurse, you already know that nursing credentials and skills offer you a career path with staying power. In general, registered nurses are in demand, commanding a median annual wage of $72,180 1 as of May 2016 — and job projections are strong.

To really thrive, however, many RNs earn additional certifications, go for an advanced degree, and specialize in one particular area of nursing. This increases their earning potential by helping them qualify for positions at more prestigious hospitals. Some advanced practice RNs can even open their own clinics.

To help you decide which career direction is right for you, take a look at some of the highest paying specialties for RNs, what you can earn and how to get started as an advanced practice nurse . Keep in mind that salaries do vary greatly based on location and employer, so the earnings listed below are just a baseline to help with your research.

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

This highly skilled profession involves preparing and administering anesthesia to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Salary: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn an average of $133,000 per year, as reported by PayScale 2 , making it the top paying nursing specialty.

Growth outlook: According to the BLS, the expected growth for CRNAs is 25 percent from 2012 to 2022.

Requirements: Be prepared to hit the books in order to achieve a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program, and upon completion, passing the National Certification Examination.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View high-paying CRNA jobs now. 

2. General Nurse Practitioner

As a general NP,  you can choose to open an independent practice or work in a variety of primary care settings. You can also advance your skills and your earning potential along the way.

Salary: General nurse practitioners can earn up to $97,990, as of the May 2014 occupational employment statistics 3 .

Growth outlook: Nurse practitioner jobs (which includes general) are expected to experience a 34 percent growth through 2022. Add to that the option to work independently, and the outlook for this specialty is robust.

Requirements: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum degree requirement for becoming a nurse practitioner, followed by earning Nurse practitioner licensure as specified by your state.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View 1,875 general practice nursing jobs now.

3. Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Older patients have a unique set of health issues requiring specialized care. RNs who prefer working with elderly patients should look no further than the gerontological nurse practitioner track.

Salary: The BLS reports the median annual salary for this specialty to be $95,070 as of May 2013.

Growth outlook: The aging population, longer life spans, and more access to long term care options means there will be a greater need for nurses who specialize in caring for the aged.

Requirements: To practice this specialty, RNs must become Certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (CGNP).

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics, and staffing agencies. View 19,325 job openings for nurses of various specialties and experience.

4. Pain Management Nurse

Pain Management Nurses help manage patient pain post-surgery, or work with patients who have chronic pain issues. They work within a healthcare team to help determine the cause of the pain and the proper course of treatment, while also educating patients about pain management and avoiding addiction or dependence on prescribed medication.

Salary: The average yearly salary for pain management nurses is $90,288 per year.

Growth outlook: Because pain management nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings -- from hospitals to clinics, to rehabilitation centers, to nursing homes -- the demand for this skill is strong.

Requirements: While an advanced degree isn’t necessary, sufficient experience as an RN is required to vie for the Nurse Practitioner certification for Pain Management Specialists.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View 19,325 job openings for nurses of various specialties and experience.s

5. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

For nurses with an interest in mental health, working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner will give you the opportunity to work under a psychiatric physician and counsel patients regarding mental health disorders.

Salary: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners earn on average $90,376 per year, according to PayScale 4 .

Growth outlook: As the need for improved mental healthcare gains national attention, and the demand for adolescent and child psychiatric services increases, PNPs will be highly sought after.

Requirements: Because of the complexities involved in this advanced position plan to earn a master’s degree with a specialty in psychiatric nursing in order to break in. Learn more about Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View 306 psych nurse jobs now.

6. Certified Nurse Midwife

For RNs who love obstetrics, labor and delivery, and prenatal care, becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife is the perfect career path. CNMs mostly work in OB/Gyn offices, clinics, or hospital settings, but many open their own practices.

Salary: Certified nurse midwives can expect to earn an average salary of $102,390 per the BLS 5 .

Growth outlook: The job outlook for midwives is beyond good, with expectations that openings will grow 29 percent during the 2012 to 2022 decade. That is much faster than the average for all occupations, and for RNs without a specialization.

Requirement: To practice certified nurse midwifery, nurses can go through the American Midwifery Certification Board to earn the Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife designations. Learn more about Certified Nurse Midwives.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View 19,325 job openings for nurses of various specialties and experience.

7. Family Nurse Practitioner

The position of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is probably the type of nursing that is closest to functioning like a primary care physician. FNPs typically perform many of the same functions as an MD, working in a medical office, hospital, clinic, or nursing facility. Among their responsibilities include patient consultations, assessments, prescribing medications and treatment, and more.

Salary: Family nurse practitioners earn an average of $84,240 per year 6 .

Growth outlook: As stated above, nurse practitioner jobs are expected to grow 34 percent from 2012 to 2024, according to the BLS. Those who focus on family practice will always be in demand since there are a variety of healthcare institutions for which they can work. Fully autonomous practice is possible in almost half the states in the U.S., as well as within the Veterans Administration (VA) system. 

Requirements: FNPs must earn the Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC) designation, and most who choose this direction also earn a master’s degree. Learn more about Family Nurse Practitioners!

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. View 86 Nurse Practitioner jobs now.

8. Informatics Nurse

Nursing, meet technology. According to the American Medical Informatics Association 7 , informatics nursing integrates nursing and its information and knowledge, with management of information and communication technologies to promote the public health.

Salary: Average salary of $83,000 8 for informatics nurses.

Growth outlook: The AMIA estimates that up to 70,000 nursing informatics specialists/analysts may be needed in the next five years.

Requirements: To get into nursing informatics, expect to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, or a Master’s in Information or Computer Ccience. Learn more about Informatics Nurses.

Jobs: There are currently 19,325 job openings for nurses of various specialties and experience.

9. Clinical Nurse Specialist

Those who wish to work within a specialized unit or clinic should consider the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) path. In addition to diagnosing and treating various conditions, you’ll be looked upon as an expert within your healthcare team. You might also specialize in a specific illness.

Salary: As per PayScale 11 , the median salary for clinical nurse specialists is $75,000 - $85,000 depending on years of experience.

Growth outlook: Because Clinical Nurse Specialists can offer specialized care at a lower cost than a physician, more and more hospitals and institutions will be seeking to add these professionals to their teams.

Requirements: A Clinical Nurse Specialist must earn a Master’s of Science in Nursing, with a specialization in clinical nursing. Learn more about Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Jobs: There are currently 3,014 clinical nurse jobs for nurses of various specialties and experience.

10. Nursing Administrator

A nursing administrator deals with the backstage operations of nursing, from budgeting and staff management to HR functions.

Salary: Nursing administrators earn an average salary of $79,064, as per PayScale 14 .

Growth outlook: Employment of medical and health services managers (of which nursing administrators are part) is projected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the BLS.

Requirements: Usually, a master’s degree in healthcare administration is required, as is state licensing.

Jobs: Search 19,325 open nursing positions now. Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. 

11. Nurse Educator

At some point, you may wish to transition from patient care to nurse education. If working directly with other nurses to train them or facilitate continuing education sounds appealing, becoming a nurse educator could be a good fit.

Salary: Nursing educators can earn an average yearly salary of $73,633, as reported by the AACN 9 in March 2014.

Growth outlook: There is a shortage of nurse educators and that is expected to continue, making this a smart choice if you wish to get off the hospital floor and go to the head of the class.

Requirements: Nurse educators must hold a master's degree at minimum, although many do earn a doctoral degree as well. See this informative profile for further information on becoming a Nurse Educator .

Jobs: Search 19,325 open nursing positions now. Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. 

12. Neonatal Nurse

If you have a real love of babies, caring for newborns is your main job as a neonatal nurse. This specialty commands a strong salary, especially for advanced practice nurses.

Salary: The average hourly wage for neonatal nurses per Payscale 10 is $29.60 per hour. Those who work in the neonatal intensive care unit have the potential to earn more, as do those with advanced certifications.

Growth outlook: Both advances in technology and the frequency of premature births have contributed to a strong job outlook for neonatal nurses.

Requirements: While you can get neonatal unit experience as a staff RN, earning either the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNPs) or neonatal clinical nurse specialist (CNS) designation is how the real advancement takes place.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. Critical care nurses are urgently needed. View 578 open jobs for Neonatal nurses. 

13. Critical Care Nurse

Critical care nurses require a specialized set of skills since they literally deal with life-and-death matters on a daily basis. They often work in hospital ICUs.

Salary: The average salary for ICU Nurses was $76,563 as of March 2017, according to the salaryexpert.com website. 12

Growth outlook: When you hear about nursing shortages, the biggest areas in need include adult critical care units, pediatric and neonatal ICUs, and emergency departments. That’s why critical care nurses should generally have no problem finding work.

Requirements: While no specific credentials are needed to begin working in critical care, in order to advance you should consider the CCRN certification exam.

Jobs: Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. Critical care nurses are urgently needed. Submit your application for 4,058 critical care or ICU nursing positions. 

14. Health Policy Nurse

If you are passionate about health and public policy, becoming a health policy nurse will let you take on the tasks of advocacy, research, analysis, policy development, implementation and evaluation, as explained by DiscoverNursing.com 13 .

Salary: While there is no specific salary survey for this track, the income potential is strong.

Growth outlook: With so much attention on the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), there is no better time to take this career route. 

Requirements: After earning your MSN, you’ll have to complete a 10-week health policy residency program in government offices, advocacy organizations, or community groups. Learn more about how specializing in Health Policy can advance your nursing career.

Jobs: Search 19,325 open nursing positions now. Employers include hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies. 

15. Medical-Surgical Nurse

Medical-Surgical Nurses are on the front lines of the nursing profession. Because so much is required of them, those who excel and decide to advance are considered to have entered a specialty area.

Salary: Nurses who stay as medical-surgical team members will earn a basic RN salary. However, advanced certification and experience will increase earning potential. According to SalaryExpert.com, the average salary for for med-surg nurses is $77,492.

Growth outlook: Medical-surgical nurses will always be in demand at hospitals and other healthcare settings. The sharper your skills, the more likely you are to be hired.

Requirements: After working at least two years as an RN, you can take the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB).
Credited to nurses.org

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Major problems Nigeria will ‘carry over’ into 2018

1. Recession

Before the August 2016 admission by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that Nigeria is in its worst economic recession in 29 years, Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun in July admitted that “When you have two consecutive quarters of negative growth, you are technically in a recession.” 

This drew the ire of many who expect the government to take action, after months of denial, rather than the ‘technical recession’ seen as an excuse for the government’s failure to find solution to the dwindling economic fortune of the country.

According to the NBS the gross domestic product (GDP) report for the second quarter of 2016, Nigeria’s economy contracted by 2.06 percent to record its lowest growth rate in three decades.

In the first quarter of 2016, the NBS said the economy shrank by 0.36 percent to hit its lowest point in 25 years.

According to World Bank data, the last time Nigeria had this magnitude of economic decline was under the regime of Ibrahim Babangida, when the economy recorded consecutive decline of 0.51 percent and 0.82 percent in first and second quarters of 1987.

Speaking on the development the Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Eze Onyekpere, said Nigeria can overcome the recession if the Federal Government can practically harmonise the nation’s fiscal and monetary policies and reinforce each to achieve macroeconomic stability and economic growth.

2. Boko Haram 

Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by late Mohammed Yusuf to oppose Western education. Its objective has expanded to create an Islamic State in Nigeria. While it was not violent at first, it changed in 2009 when some of its members were arrested, sparking a riot as well as an armed clash with the Nigerian Army that killed 800 people.

Under the leadership of the bloodthirsty Abubakar Shekau, the sect carried out a massive kidnapping which drew worldwide attention, and outrage. Taken from school in Chibok, Borno State, the 276 school girls remained in captivity for well-over two years. Some of the girls were rescued and the military claim they are in the final push of ending the insurgency in Sambisa Forest and other enclaves of the sect.

While many security operatives and civilians were killed in suicide and other forms of attacks by the insurgents, the November 4 killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali, by suspected Boko Haram at a 119 Battalion Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori, northern Borno State elicited widespread reaction.

Ali led one of the army’s fiercest-ever battles with Boko Haram, in February 2015, culminating in the recapture of Baga town in Borno State.

It is apparent that the war on insurgency will be fought into 2017.

3. Niger Delta Militancy

Nigeria depends on oil as the sole income generator for the country, proving to be the bane of human and infrastructural development, underscored by the restiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, which is dealing blows on crude sales, perhaps more than dwindling global oil prices.

The current conflict in the region first arose in the early 1990s over tensions between foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger Delta’s minority ethnic groups who feel they are being exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw. Competition for oil wealth has fueled violence between ethnic groups, causing the militarization of nearly the entire region by ethnic militia groups. 

The late President Umaru Yar’adua in 2009 launched the amnesty program with support and training of ex-militants. However the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militants continue to blow up oil pipelines especially after the 2015 presidential election, vowing to cripple the federal government.

Combined military and other security agents offensives have so far failed to arrest the violence in the region. 

4. Kidnapping

The September 29 kidnapping of Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele along the Benin-Agbor Road, Edo State ranks among the highest-profile cases, projectin a worrisome phenomenon which has been spiking for the past two years. 

While Mrs. Emefiele was lucky to be alive, late Col. Samaila Inusa who was kidnapped on March 26 in Kaduna was killed by a four-man gang led by one Emeka Okeke.

Many cases of kidnapping are reported on a daily basis, with victims including children and the elderly. Family members, and sometimes employers pay huge amounts as ransom. There are many reports which say the kidnappers run a massive, well-oiled operation with elaborate camps deep in dark forests around the country. 

Security forces have made progress in a bid to cripple kidnapping, but much more remains to be done, as cases still come up regularly, even in rural areas where they are poorly reported,

5. Farmers/Herders Clashes

The perennial violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen across the country led to the Federal Government setting up a technical committee to tackle it. The committee is chaired by the Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Professor Oshita O. Oshita.

Many lives have been lost to the violence, with additional thousands displaced. The majority of the clashes occur between Fulani herdsmen and Christian farmers, thereby worsening ethno-religious hostilities in the country.

The National Assembly voted down a proposal for a national grazing reserve which was described as unjust.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, governors Nasir el-Rufai and Samuel Ortom of Kaduna and Benue states among others, have been at the forefront of finding a lasting solution to the incessant clashes, which still occur in small pockets.

6. Rural Banditry/Cattle Rustling

The scourge of rural banditry and cattle rustling is not limited to but mostly reported in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Sokoto states. Hundreds of residents were killed and thousands of cattle stolen, with hundreds of houses and other properties destroyed in the wake of attacks on rural communities in the affected states.

There was however a new dimension to the banditry as many residents, especially farmers, were kidnapped and millions of naira paid to regain their freedom.

The Nigerian Army launched Operation Harbin Kunama in July this year in Zamfara State, apart from other special operations in many of the affected states, leading to drastic reduction in the crime, as many of the armed bandits were flushed out and thousands of cattle recovered.

There were renewed cases of violence especially in the states suffering the problem, an indication that the joint security operation may have been relaxed thus giving the bandits the effrontery to catch their collective breaths, re-group and unleash terror on innocents.

7. High-Profile Corruption Cases

Many Nigerians were excited when former President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that the days of corruption were numbered. Thirteen years after, the anti-graft agency and sister initiatives seem to bark more than bite. There are many high profile cases involving 16 former governors, some of whom are currently in the National Assembly.

The other pending matters are related to oil subsidy scandal, money laundering and violation of the Public Procurement Act.

Some of the pending high-profile cases are those preferred against ex-governors Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Orji UzorKalu (Abia), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), the late Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Timipreye Sylva (Bayelsa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), RashidiLadoja (Oyo), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), AliyuAkwe Doma (Nasarawa), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Abdullahi  Adamu (Nasarawa). The list, really, is long.

8. Babachir/Magu imbroglio:

Penultimate Wednesday the Senate asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend and ensure prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).

The Senator Shehu Sani-led ad hoc committee reported that Mr. Lawal’s company, Global Vision Ltd., is among the companies indicted for allegedly benefiting from inflated and phantom contracts - or ones not executed at all - awarded by the PINE.

Lawal’s firm was said to have been awarded over N200 million contract to clear ‘invasive plant species’ in Yobe State and that as of the time the contract was awarded in March 2016, the SGF was still the director of the company and only resigned in September. Yet, currently, he is the signatory to the company’s account.

Lawal has however denied any wrong-doing and accused the Senate of witch-hunt. The following day the Senate also rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the EFCC.

The lawmakers said they could not okay President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr. Magu, who has been in acting capacity, based on security reports available to them. The spokesperson of the lawmakers, Aliyu Abdullahi, made the announcement after the senators emerged from a closed-door meeting where Mr. Magu’s confirmation was discussed.

President Buhari has however ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to investigate both cases.

9. Aviation Industry Woes

The crisis in the nation’s aviation industry has escalated from occasional crashes to perpetual flight delays and cancellations. The acute shortage of aviation fuel has worsened the situation with air fares jumping from N19,000 early this year for major routes, to as high as N80,000 this week.

The federal government notwithstanding said it would continue with the reforms in the sector and few days ago The Minister of State for aviation Senator Hadi Sirika announced that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja would be shut down for some maintenance.

Nigerians are expected to have more sad tales to tell in 2017 as far as the sector is concerned.

10. Unemployment

Despite being a global phenomenon, unemployment has been a major challenge successive administrations contend with yearly. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the country’s unemployment rate rose from 13.3 percent in the 2nd quarter to 13.9 percent in the 3rd quarter of 2016.

The NBS report stated that the number of unemployed in the labour force increased by 555,311 persons. According to the report, the underemployment rate rose from 19.3 per cent in second quarter to 19.7 per cent in the third quarter. The report said that unemployment covered persons (aged 15-64) who during the reference period were currently available for work, actively seeking for work, not finding any. 

In March 2014, 16 people were killed in stampedes when 500,000 desperate job-seekers rushed to apply for under 5,000 vacancies at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The Federal Government recently launched its Social Investment Programme (SIP) in five areas of select locations including N-power, Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF), Cash Transfers (NCTP), Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and STEM Bursary Programme to tame the scourge.

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REASONS WHY FEMALE NURSES SHOULD NOT MARRY DOCTORS

I am very sure the topic of this article is so funny and sounds ridiculous to the novice in the health sector and to the quack and to those nurses who thinks with their buttocks.

In this article, I will go in depth to prove to you why I go for the topic, and at the end of the day you will have a change of mind and to those in the relationship with kids will know their rights.

 I credited most of the points to my tutor Nurse Adams Omolola. To keep it short and straight, here are the reasons:

Firstly, the 99% of female nurses that got married to doctors are unable to upgrade themselves in term of profession and education. The doctors, all felt that they are the owner of the health sector and so all other things embedded in it are under their authority and orders, they deprived their wives and rendering them inferior , they keeps giving unnecessary excuses, for instance, when the wife intend to proceed with her education and inform her husband, ideally the next thing is to embraced and bid the idea, but reverse is the case, his intended reply will be “ my dear, when you intend to run a program now, who is going to take care of the family and by the way I need you always in my life, and  however what do need again? What I owned, you owned them.” In few months later, my dear wife I need to run a program to catapult me to the next level, and with your assistance {financial}. After many attempts of the wife to proceed and proved abortive, she will accept that peasant grade as her fate. For she has forgotten that MY  is different from OUR.

Secondly, ward conflict is another point of the matter, any place can be a battle ground, in health sector the battle ground is the clinical ward for nurses and doctors, two-third of the time to be spend in a day are spent in the ward, imagine when husband and wife, doctor and nurse respectively, have disgraced and languished themselves and the profession on a scanty and simple and straight-forward instruction, how will you feel?. When they returned home. Scars will always remain scars.

 Thirdly, I personally, have never seen a male nurse and female doctor marriage, in as much as this event as not occurred, then an end should be put to nurses and doctors marriage, this is a clue that they cannot have a peaceful and rest-hearted home, if care is not taken, likewise the counter-part

Fourthly, the believes of the societies on nurses are so numerous and ridiculous. Imagine, the societies viewed and viewing nurses as sexual workers and errand girls to doctors, who knows nothing but ideas, and assumption. Immediately a nurse is caught with a doctor, that very moment she is clothed with disrespect and low public image.

Finally, you are seen as intruder to their profession and search tool to your own profession which helps in getting access to any information concerning your profession. All ideas and plans of your profession which are not gainful to them will be scrap-off and he will be your controller-general in two dimensions: medical and marriage. What is the benefit of marriage without a happy home? He is going to view you as inferior in all ways and stylishly called you my beautiful maid with lovely facial expression of horror interpretation.

 THINK TWICE.

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