Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
Working Conditions
Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners held about 170,400 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners were as follows:
Offices of physicians
48%
Hospitals; state, local, and private
28
Outpatient care centers
7
Educational services; state, local, and private
3
Offices of other health practitioners
3
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) work in a variety of settings including physicians' offices, hospitals, schools, and clinics. Nurse midwives also work in birthing centers. Some APRNs may treat patients in their patients' homes.
APRNs may also travel long distances to help care for patients in places where there are not enough healthcare workers.
Injuries and Illnesses
APRN work can be both physically and emotionally demanding. Some APRNs spend much of their day on their feet. They are vulnerable to back injuries because they must lift and move patients. APRN work can also be stressful because they make critical decisions that affect a patient's health.
Because of the environments in which they work, APRNs may come in close contact with infectious diseases. Therefore, they must follow strict, standardized guidelines to guard against diseases and other dangers, such as accidental needle sticks or patient outbursts.
Work Schedules
APRNs working in physicians' offices or schools typically work during normal business hours. Those working in hospitals and various other healthcare facilities may work in shifts to provide round-the-clock patient care. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays. Some APRNs, especially those who work in critical care or those who deliver babies, also may be required to be on call.