Equal pay for equal work?

[MILOBRI]

I'm an ER nurse and I know I want more, and, admittedly, monetary compensation factors into decision making. How did you decide to pursue NP as opposed to DO/MD? I'm interested in family practice or ER...NPs can do both of these just a physician dose, correct? In Iowa NPs have an independent license. I'd be going to school for 4 more years either way (yes, I know there's residency as well for physicians), how much influence did how much more money you'd make as a physician doing the same thing you're doing as an NP have in your decision making?

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

I was was paid more than the other FP physicians because I could do chronic pain and ER.

BlueDevil,

Do you think your experience is the norm? Is there anything can point to that you or others in your group did to come to this equal pay decision?

[jaznia15]

I agree with the above posters the choice you make depends on your circumstances. I always dreamed of becoming a MD in my younger days, but a teenage pregnancy changed my whole life. My wants and needs are secondary to my child's well-being so therefore I became a nurse. The glory of being a nurse was so prominent in school, but by my 6 month mark I was soooo over it. I wanted more autonomy, I wanted more time spent with my patients, and most of all I wanted "normal" hours for my son's sake. So I applied to FNP school and started a month before my 1 year mark. I will be finishing school this year at the tender age of 24 with my MSN and hopefully pass boards to become a FNP. Looking back at my life, I realize I probably would have never became a MD anyway. My motivation has always been my son and without him, I think I would have been like so many other MD hopefuls and changed my major after organic chem (LOL). I know I won't start off my FNP career making six figures but I'm actually quite comfortable with my nurse's pay at the moment. I tell people all the time, "its not how much you make but how you spend your money." I don't need the huge paycheck to feel fulfilled with my career choice. Of course once I obtain experience, I will probably negoiate for more money after I've put the time in. Residents make less than staff nurses working 50-60 hour weeks for 4-6 years and they are licensed doctors. Although I agree that pay should be increased across the board for NPs, there must be some humility when first entering practice. I plan to soak up all I can in my first few years after practice but I wouldn't even pay myself the same amount as an MD as a new graduate.

[zenman]

I'm betting you need a PMHNP over there, lol!

I've posted about htis before. My practice does believe in equal pay for equal work, and the salary ladder is the same for all providers, dependent upon years of experience. We start new NPs and MDs/DOs at the same base salary and we all have the same bonus potential. So pfffft to anyone who thinks it shouldn't be that way, lol. It is. Get used to it.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I'm betting you need a PMHNP over there, lol!

We most certainly do. Psych pts are my most difficult and least rewarding. A little venlafaxine here, or some escitaloram there and they either get better or they don't. It's a crap shoot.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I struggled hard with this choice too, and like many, decided to be an APRN (CNM, in my case) as opposed to an OB because I didn't want to miss my kids' childhood. The path to an MD is long, hard and time consuming. APN is much more compatible with having a family.

My other reason is because I don't WANT the scope or the responsibility of being the MD. I like knowing I have someone to pass my complicated patients to! I do plan on getting a terminal degree (PhD) after I finish my CNM education, but I am more than content with the scope of practice for CNMs, and have no desire to take on the training or the responsibility of an MD.