Whenever there’s a shortage of workers in any job field, salaries skyrocket. Nursing is no different. Currently, most hospitals in the United States are under-staffed, and nurses are also needed at schools, health organizations, nursing homes, and other health-related facilities. Because these employers need talented help, they’re willing to pay top dollar for graduates with the right degree.

Nurse practitioners are highly sought in most area of the United States, and average salary reflected this need. To become a nurse practitioner, you must first earn you degree as a registered nurse. Nurse practitioners go back to school for their master’s degree and can work more independently than registered nurses (exact duties depend on the state where you work). Because nurse practitioners can do the diagnosing and treating work that many doctors do, hospitals readily hire them right out of school.

In May 2008, the average annual salary for a registered nurse in the United States was $65,130, according to the United States Department of Labor. That’s an average of over $31 an hour, which is worth the long hours and thankless tasks to many employees. As a nurse practitioner, you can expect to make even more money, since you’d have an advanced degree.

As an added bonus, if you first work as a registered nurse, many employers offer to pay for the advanced schooling your need to become a nurse practitioner. There are often conditions to tuition reimbursement, like your commitment to work for the employer for at least a set number of years or maintaining a certain number of hours per week at work as you attend school part-time. In general, though, this is a great way to avoid expensive college costs, and you’ll only end up benefiting, as you’ll see your salary rise once you’re awarded the advanced degree.

Although most people think of nurses as assistants to doctors at private offices and hospitals, the truth is that you can find even more lucrative job openings elsewhere if you’re willing to look hard enough. The top-paid nurses in the United States work for the motion picture industry, professional organizations, and the federal government. With all of these employers, the average salary in 2008 was well over $74,000 for a registered nurse — which translates to an even higher wage for a nurse practitioner.

Where you live also affects the amount of money you could make as a nurse practitioner. In general, the most lucrative states for nurses are California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maryland, and New York. If you want a metropolitan area that pays well, check out jobs in San Jose and Visalia-Porterville, which are both in California. Nurses in these areas can expect to make a six-figure salary.

Being a nurse at any level can be stressful, but with just a two-year education, you can be well on your way to becoming a nurse practitioner someday. The salary will make the time you spend on training well worth your time, and in today’s job market, having some security in your career is a dream situation.

Nowadays, earning an advanced nursing degree online from the comfort of your own home is quite simple. The following schools are tops in the nation in terms of delivering a quality, accredited online nursing practition education.

MSN - Clinical Nursing MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Women's Health More...	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse administration, family nursing, nurse midwifery, and mental health nursing.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability and their general MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for busy working healthcare nurses and professionals looking for advancement in their respective careers.
MS in Nursing MSN / MBA Dual Degree MSN / MHA Dual Degree MSN - Health Education MSN - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty's Master of Science degree program in nursing is geared toward individuals interested in acute care nursing. Students of this program will be trained to become a clinical nursing specialist (CNS) in acute care. Liberty University is the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation.
RN to MSN - Practitioner MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership	Gonzaga University — Gonzaga's RN to MSN degree program will dutifully prepare anyone for a career as a nurse practitioner. Students of this program learn administrative, human capital management, financial, ethical, and legal skills. Other programs are offered in nurse education and health systems leadership.
MS in Nursing - RN Track RN to MSN - Informatics RN to MSN - Education RN to MSN - Leadership	Walden University — The Walden School of Nursing offers several unique master's in nursing degree programs for the aspiring nurse practitioner. For those RNs who have already obtained their BSN degrees, there are multiple fast-track MSN programs offered that will get you on the path to your degree as fast as possible. MSN specialty programs are available in subjects like informatics, education, and leadership.
MSN - Adult Acute Care MSN - Adult Psych Care MSN - Clinical Trials MSN - Nursing Leadership	Drexel University — Drexel's MSN - adult acute care nurse practitioner program is geared toward preparing students for professional nursing practice with acutely ill patients. Graduates of this program can find careers in several settings, including ICUs, clinics, emergency departments, medical research laboratories, and more. Programs are also available in adult psychiatric care, clinical trials, and nursing leadership.
MSN - Nurse Educator MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — The master's degree in nursing education is taught in two flavors by Capella University. The regular MSN in nursing education is geared toward nurses with a BSN under their belts. They also offer an MSN bridge degree in nursing education that is designed for bachelor's degree holders in other subjects not related to nursing.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University — The online Master of Science degree in nursing program from Benedictine University prepares students to become nurse educators, leaders, administrators, case coordinators, managed care consultants, and more. This program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Nurse Education	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration and nurse education degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more.
MSN - Nurse Education MSN/MBA - Leadership MSN - Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University is always worth a look for students seeking a well-rounded education that integrates the ideals of the Christian belief set. GCU is not only one of the most renowned Christian universities in the nation, but also offers a variety of graduate-level nursing degrees for students to choose from, including nursing education and nursing leadership (also with an MBA option).
RN to MSN Bridge MSN - Health Mgmt	Loyola University of New Orleans — Two online degree programs are offered at Loyola University of New Orleans for aspiring nurse practitioners. Their RN to MSN bridge program covers topics of leadership, community health, health promotion, and professional development to help prepare students for careers as nurse practitioners. Loyola also offers an online MSN degree in health care systems management.
MSN - Clinical Leadership	St. Xavier University — The online MSN program from St. Xavier University has a focus on clinical nurse leadership, ideal for any student who is looking for an advanced nursing role within the healthcare industry. Nurse leaders help identify, design, implement, and evaluate critical administrative processes to enhance patient care.
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