Experts anticipate that demand for pediatric nurse practitioners will remain high over the coming decade as they do with all nursing-related careers. With nurse practitioners, however, the difference is the sheer size of the demand.
Experts anticipate that demand for pediatric nurse practitioners will remain high over the coming decade as they do with all nursing-related careers. With nurse practitioners, however, the difference is the sheer size of the demand.
The federal government projects a staggering 52% growth in the number of nurse practitioner jobs by 2029. This enormous demand makes it one of the fastest-growing professions in the country for the next decade. That number is expected to get even larger in Texas where huge population growth contributes to high demand for nurse practitioners.
Those who earn a Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care are prepared to provide a greatly needed healthcare. They also put themselves into a career field where job stability is expected for the foreseeable future.
Reasons for the Nurse Practitioner Shortage
The pediatric nurse practitioner job outlook looks strong in Texas and across the nation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, across the country, the number of new jobs for nurse practitioners will reach 110,700 by 2029. That would raise the total number of nurse practitioners across the country to 322,000.
Nurse practitioner salaries have also increased. In May 2019, the BLS reported an annual average salary for all nurse practitioners of $111,840.
In 2019, the Journal of Pediatric Health Care published a white paper that projected a “critical” pediatric nurse practitioner shortage in the coming years. The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners responded to the shortage by saying it’s in the country’s best interest to “build a PNP workforce that will provide high quality, value-based, evidence-based care and treatment for our youth so they can become healthy, thriving, and productive adults.”
Some factors contributing to rapid growth in the profession include the following.
- Fewer nurses pursue a pediatrics specialty. One doctor told Registered Nursing that part of the issue is that not enough schools offer PNP programs such as the one offered at Houston Christian University.
- More child-related medical issues. The coronavirus is impacting more children, as is a multi-organ inflammatory disorder that has spread throughout the country.
- Population growth in many areas. States with explosive population growth have seen the highest demand for pediatric nurse practitioners, including Texas, Florida, and California.
The Benefits of Being a PNP
The Houston Christian University PNP graduate degree attracts those who see a chance to help children as the biggest benefit of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. It’s hard to find a better way to spend a career than focusing on better health outcomes for the young. PNPs help children eventually realize their full potential as adults.
Pediatric nurses also enjoy practical benefits. The average salary for all nurse practitioners in Texas is $115,440, higher than the national average. The state ranks third in employment of nurse practitioners, behind only New York and California. And with the exploding job growth anticipated, job security will not become an issue for many years.
Becoming a PNP also provides a great deal of flexibility. The BLS reports that nurse practitioners work in a variety of locations, including:
- Healthcare and social assistance agencies
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Physicians’ offices
- Outpatient care centers
- Home healthcare services
- Hospitals
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals
The HCU degree program prepares graduates to sit for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care certification examination from either the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board or the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Nurses can finish the 38-credit program, which includes 517 clinical contact hours, in 24 months.
For those who want the unique combination of a career that offers many job opportunities and a chance to help children, committing to earning a PNP master’s degree will help them fulfill their ambitions.