[homeylu2004]

RN's only need a minimum of an ASN, NP's need an MSN, You do the tuition math. I'm only speaking to those that feel becoming a NP will "guarantee" them a higher salary, if you're still doing work as a staff nurse, your NP title won't guarantee you anything but more student loans to repay. (Again that's only in certain areas)... while RN's are in high demand, there is NOT necessarrily a high demand for mid level practioner's. For example, try monster.com, select all states...... type in nuser- over 5,000 jobs across the country. Then type in nurse practioner- 18 jobs across the country.... doesnt take a brain suregeon to see there is not a high demand for that title.

[piper_for_hire]

I searched on Monster.com for nurse practitioner and I found more than 350 jobs. However, I don't think monster is a very good source for finding nursing jobs.

I'm not trying to say that there isn't less of a demand for NPs as compared to RNs - but what I'm saying is that there certainly seems to be a high enough demand.

Frankly, there doesn't seem to be any profession these days that has as high a demand as nursing does.

-S

[salvati08]

Originally posted by homeylu2004
RN's only need a minimum of an ASN, NP's need an MSN, You do the tuition math. I'm only speaking to those that feel becoming a NP will "guarantee" them a higher salary, if you're still doing work as a staff nurse, your NP title won't guarantee you anything but more student loans to repay. (Again that's only in certain areas)... while RN's are in high demand, there is NOT necessarrily a high demand for mid level practioner's. For example, try monster.com, select all states...... type in nuser- over 5,000 jobs across the country. Then type in nurse practioner- 18 jobs across the country.... doesnt take a brain suregeon to see there is not a high demand for that title.

Really NP's DO make more than RN's. Look on salary.com and in any state the average RN makes about 40,000, where a NP make about 70,000. So there is a difference. All I wanted to know was if there was a difference in the salaries BETWEEN NP's. In my area there are ALWAYS NP jobs that I see. And I will be a RN first and I was definetly planning on getting my bach anyway, so really it''s only two more years tuition. I will maybe have a 20,000 student loan to pay off when I graduate and I think that's worth it when you start out making 20 - 30 K more. And as far as them not being in high demand in the worse case scenrio, I could work as a RN until I found a good NP job.

[homeylu2004]

Whatever make you happy. I grossed $79,000 last year as an RN,shift diffs, overtime, agency rates!!! And I have no loans to repay.

[salvati08]

Originally posted by homeylu2004
Whatever make you happy. I grossed $79,000 last year as an RN,shift diffs, overtime, agency rates!!! And I have no loans to repay.

yes but I will START OUT at 70K and that is not including shift diffs, overtime, etc. I never said anything negative about being a RN. My questions were not for you. And yeah most RN may have loans to repay from nursing school, you just lucked out.

[homeylu2004]

I was replying to the original post in case you forgot it's


The general salary figure I hear for NPs disappoints me as I'm sure it disappoints the NPs!! I mean an NP providing primary care which includes prescribing medication, diagnosing medical illness, and paying substantial malpractice insurance and only getting arround $70K is disgusting

I'm sorry if I missed your post... what was it again? oh yeah, $70,000 IS a lot of money...
And the reason I have no student loans, is because I was being economical, and attended a 2 year community college.

[homeylu2004]

My questions were not for you

And my replies were not directed at you personally. This is an open post correct?

[homeylu2004]

Really NP's DO make more than RN's. Look on salary.com and in any state the average RN makes about 40,000, where a NP make about 70,000.

I never said that NP's make less than RN's, sounds ridiculous. Basically to become an NP requires a license. This only gives you the title. If you don't secure a position as a Nurse Practioner, then you're basically an RN with the title. There are 15 staff nurse working with me right now, that are licensed NP's and until they can find a position as a nurse practioner in this oversaturated market,(I'm only talking where I live in Boston, I can't speak for the rest of the country) they will continue to make the same salary as me. One young lady went into privste practice and the others complain, that everytime they respond to 1 open position, they have to compete with like 20 other applicants. Unlike RN's there is not a high demand for NP's in this area and many others in the country. I'm willing to bet for the 500 positions someone claims was posted there are 5 times as qualified applicants. In areas like Boston, there are thousands of med students, fulfilling there residency and they are taking the positions that an NP would typically fulfil. I'm in now way trying to discourage anyone from pursuing their dream,I'm simply just being realistic. From what I hear there is a high demand in rural areas, but big cities like mine, with several medical schools....forget it.

[salvati08]

Originally posted by homeylu2004
My questions were not for you

And my replies were not directed at you personally. This is an open post correct?

No but they were, that's just it, I was the only student asking questions on this specific topic and you were talking about what I was asking. It just got offensive because it sounded as if you have some hostility towards NP's, like you were trying to prove it is stupid to be a NP because the only thing that differentiates a RN from a NP is a huge student loan and a certificate. It was offensive. No one ever was saying anything against being a RN or saying it's any less than being a NP. In my area, St.Louis, they are not saturated. And from what I have been told my a few I know there is a difference. But you may have your opinion..........I'm finished with this.

[piper_for_hire]

I think one thing to note is that in any profession, you often have to move around more when you specialize. By the same token, you have to go where the jobs are. I know, it sounds kind of obvious, but we don't always think about the economics of things when we follow our dreams. I know that I don't.

-S