Clinical nurse specialists (cnss: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

See the profile on registered nurses for more information on clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), also considered to be a type of APRN.

Education Required
Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners must earn a masters degree from an accredited program. These programs include both classroom education and clinical experience. Courses in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology are common as well as coursework specific to the chosen APRN role.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 31% (Much faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Advancement
Some APRNs may take on managerial or administrative roles, while others go into academia. APRNs who earn a doctoral degree may conduct independent research or work in an interprofessional research team.
Licenses/Certifications
Most states recognize all of the APRN roles. In states that recognize some or all of the roles, APRNs must have a registered nursing license, complete an accredited graduate-level program, and pass a national certification exam. Each states board of nursing can provide details.
Median pay: How much do Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners make?
$107,460 Annual Salary
$51.67 per hour

Careers for Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

  • Acute care nurse practitioners
  • Adult nurse practitioners
  • Advanced practice registered nurses
  • CNMs
  • CRNAs
  • Cardiology nurse practitioners
  • Certified nurse midwives
  • Certified nurse practitioners
  • Certified pediatric nurse practitioners
  • Certified registered nurse anesthetists
  • Certified registered nurse practitioners
  • DNAPs
  • Dermatology nurse practitioners
  • Doctors of nurse anesthesia practice
  • Electrophysiology nurse practitioners
  • Emergency medicine nurse practitioners
  • Family health nurse practitioners
  • Family practice nurse practitioners
  • Gastroenterology nurse practitioners
  • Gerontological nurse practitioners
  • Internal medicine nurse practitioners
  • NPs
  • Neurosurgical nurse practitioners
  • Nurse anesthetists
  • Nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)
  • Nurse midwives
  • Nurse midwives (CNMs)
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Nurse practitioners (NPs)
  • Obstetrics-gynecology nurse practitioners
  • Orthopedic nurse practitioners
  • Palliative care nurse practitioners
  • Pediatric nurse practitioners
  • Surgical nurse practitioners

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