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Perinatal nurse practitioners (NPs) and perinatal clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) provide health care services to women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Having a baby presents stress—good and bad. And perinatal nurses support women and their families through this transition, addressing the physical and emotional issues that may arise before and after a child is born. The perinatal nursing career path you choose depends on your interests and goals. Perinatal CNSs and perinatal nurse practitioners may practice independently, or work for a health care facility. In general, the difference between the two paths is that NPs function mainly as clinicians, whereas CNSs may function as administrators, researchers, educators or consultants.  Perinatal Nurse Career Overview Beginning with pregnancy, perinatal nurses educate women about childbirth techniques and prenatal health and might treat women for high-risk pregnancy conditions. In the delivery room, they support women through the course of labor and childbirth. After the baby is born, a perinatal nurse teaches mothers about feeding, mother-child bonding and general infant care. Perinatal CNSs and perinatal nurse practitioners can find career opportunities in inpatient and outpatient settings, including hospitals, birth centers, community health centers, physicians' offices, adult education centers and private practice. Perinatal Nursing Education As advanced practice nurses, perinatal nurse practitioners and CNSs must hold a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) or a post-master's certificate in their specialty. Two-year master's degree programs build on your undergraduate nursing study and typically require that you have already earned your registered nursing (RN) license. In general, MSN programs involve classroom work and a significant number of hours of practical experience, which may include clinical, teaching and research time. After you complete your program, becoming a certified nurse practitioner (NP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) can offer you distinct career advantages. Certification demonstrates to employers that you meet the highest level of standards of practice and that you are committed to ongoing professional development. In turn, passing that certification exam can translate into greater career opportunities and increased salary potential. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers certification for NPs and CNSs who meet specific eligibility requirements. Perinatal Nurse Salary According to April 2009 data from Salary.com, clinical nurse specialists earn a median annual salary of $80,975. The median salary for nurse practitioners is $82,590. And Payscale.com indicates that some employer types pay better than others when it comes to nursing careers. Clinical nurse specialists who work for the federal government can earn as much as $117,915 per year. On the other hand, NPs break the six-figure mark at organizations outside of government. Other top paying employers for both NPs and CNSs include non-profits, state and local government agencies, and hospitals. Perinatal Nursing Career Outlook Because of the ongoing nursing shortage, registered nurses in general can anticipate a 23 percent job growth rate through 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And nursing schools now offer a number of programs, such as online, direct-entry MSN and accelerated nursing degrees, to attract more nursing students and meet the growing demand for flexible education options. Perinatal nurses offer women and families vital care and service in the midst of what could become a highly stressful, confusing time in their lives. Clearly, perinatal nursing delivers extraordinary personal rewards—and you could not ask for a better nursing career outlook. Take a closer look at your perinatal nursing school options, and start your training today. Sources:
NurseWeek.com, 2009.
DiscoverNursing.com, 2009.
University of California Regents, 2008.
March of Dimes, 2009.
NurseCredentialing.org, 2009.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009 |
Perinatal Nurse Career at a Glance Good Salary According to Salary.com, perinatal nurses are some of the highest paid nursing positions. Clinical Nurse Specialists make a medican salary of $80,975 and nurse practitioners make a median salary of $82,590. Plenty of Excitement Perinatal nurses educate women about childbirth and prenatal health and help future mothers learn how to care for their babies. Being a perinatal nurse can be very rewarding since you're helping families with new life. How to Pay for Nursing School - As nursing school tuition has increased, a rising number of nursing scholarships and grants have become available for qualifying candidates. Nursing school is expensive, but there are many grants, loans, scholarships, work-study and loan forgiveness programs available to hard-working students. Gain access to financial first aid for nursing school.
How to Get Nursing Scholarships - Many scholarship and grant opportunities are available to nursing students to encourage people to enter the nursing field and help alleviate the increasing nursing shortages. With a little research, you can learn how to obtain this free money for your nursing school education. Learn how to uncover these funding sources to help free you from financial worries.
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