A Career As A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

While researching what medical field I was interested in, I learned that a nurse practitioner does everything a doctor does such as order blood work, diagnose illnesses and prescribe medicine except nurse practitioners have less than half of the paper work a doctor does. This was something that really intrigued me because I had dreamed of becoming a pediatrician to provide care for children but the thought of having mountains of paperwork discouraged me as I would rather help children than sit and file papers all day. This requires a master's degree in nursing but is recommended that one gets their doctorate. Its is also required to complete a residency and fellowship same as a doctor, because pediatric nurse practitioners have the same responsibilities as a doctor does.

Ideally under a pediatrician where I would diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication and therapy, conduct routine check-up, order and perform patient lab tests. I would work independently with children and their parents daily. The only thing I believe I would have trouble taking in are the deaths of minors. I do not think I could work in a pediatric cancer facility nor an emergency, surgical career. As this would change my overall view on the world. I believe seeing children die regularly would make me cold to block those feelings or I would never be able to separate my career from my personal life. While I do want to stay local, I began researching the lowest and average annual salary to predict what I would make. I could make anywhere from 44 thousand to over 100 thousand annually and would be pleased with anything at or above a starting salary of 50 thousand. My dream would be to make enough money in the winter and spring months to spend summers in third world countries volunteering and helping