Nurse Practitioner Opportunities are Endless!
There are so many career and growth opportunities to choose from once you’re an NP!
In today's post I wanted to highlight for you the endless opportunities you will have once you become a nurse practitioner. Now, you may have become a nurse practitioner because you love being in the clinical setting while helping others. This is the reason why I got into nursing as I love helping people and enjoy being with my patients. Nonetheless I also enjoy variety in my work, and sometimes daily clinic life can become monotonous.
For this reason I wanted to share with you that aside from clinical practice, there are many more opportunities available to you. One of my favorite sayings which I constantly remind myself is that "opportunity is everywhere", sometimes you just have to open your eyes to the endless opportunities that life is presenting you. Below are a few of the opportunities you can take advantage of once you're a nurse practitioner.
Faculty. Once you're a NP with some experience, you may have the opportunity to teach. This is a great way to give back to the profession as well as keep up-to-date on NP-related information. Many faculty members also keep a clinical practice to maintain their skills.
Business owner (your own clinic, telemedicine practice, or other business). I started a telemedicine business, though it wasn't the right business for me so I closed it. My current business consists of The Nurse Practitioner Mentorship Project where I mentor NPs newer to the field. Being a business owner is awesome, and I love incorporating my love for business with my medical skills.
Speaker. As a nurse practitioner you may be offered gigs to speak at conferences and at events. I'm currently in the process of negotiating a speaking gig. I'll let you know when and if this happens!
Expert Opinion. You know how you see people on talk shows and on the news speaking on health-related topics? This could also be you! We need more NPs to speak about health, preventative medicine, and ways to live a healthier lifestyle. I believe our voice is powerful, though we are not heard much on a national level. If you're able to get out there and discuss your opinions on health topics, think about how many people you could help!
Author. I wrote The Ultimate Nurse Practitioner Guidebook which has been stepping stone for my career. If you're a NP, there are many subjects you can speak on due to your clinical skills and medical knowledge. Coach. Consider a side gig as a health or life coach once you're a nurse practitioner.
If you're not yet a NP I hope that this list has gotten you excited about what the future holds. If you're already a nurse practitioner, start to consider other ways that you can use your skills. Side gigs can also turn into extra cash flow!