What else can I be?

I get asked a lot about my job. What is a nurse practitioner? What do you do? How are you different than a doctor? How are you different than a nurse? And in one of my first blogs I discussed a lot of this. But I also get asked what career alternatives are out there. So I thought I'd mention a few other career options if you think healthcare is for you but not sold on being an NP.

Probably the most similar job is a physician assistant, aka a PA. Like NPs, they diagnose, treat, manage patient's care, prescribe, and order and analyze labs and studies. The main difference is that NPs practice under the nursing model and PAs practice under the medical model, like physicians. Training is also different. NP programs entail earning an MSN (master's in nursing) degree in an area of specialty (acute care, adult, pediatric, etc). PAs spend generally 2 years studying general medical and surgical care.

If you are interested in anesthesia, you should definitely consider becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). This is also an advanced practice nurse, requiring a master's degree, and that allows you to deliver anesthesia. Of the practicing CRNAs they are 51% females and 49% males. This is the nursing version of an anesthesiologist.

If you are interesting in delivering babies, you should consider being a nusre midwife. Once again, this is a master's prepared advanced practice nurse, and is similar to an OB/GYN physician. Midwives tend to care for the pregnancies in the no to low-risk category and practice under the nursing model.

There are far more options for a career in healthcare other than these mentioned, but these are options that could be considered largely on par with choosing a career as a nurse practitioner. You could also work as a registered nurse, physician, clinical nurse specialist, nurse researcher, physical or occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, and more. With so many options, you're bound to find a niche that works for you!