Considering Entry-MSN/FNP Program - Questions about FNP career

allnurses Guide · Feb 24, 2010

Hi,

Congrats on your acceptance! I'm a May 2009 grad of a direct entry MSN program (FNP track). I honestly had no trouble getting a job-I had 3 decent offers before graduation. I'm not sure if that's common across the country, but all the FNPs in my program had jobs within a month after graduation. Grads in the other tracks (Pedi, Women's health, Adult) had more of a challenge finding jobs, but I think pretty much everyone did find something within 6 months. Salaries for new grads ranged from $80K-$90K (in the Boston area). I took a lower paying job in an urban community health center in return for loan repayment from the National Health Service (something I highly recommend looking into!). I'm very happy with my career. I work 4 10 hour shifts, one Saturday a month, and no nights or major holidays. I never have to be on call, either. Most of my classmates are working in outpatient primary care settings and have similar "deals". I am very much a generalist in my position- I do primary care, urgent care, women's health (but no OB), and some mental health (prescribing, not counseling). I don't see kids in my current position. The beauty of being certified as an FNP is that you can pretty much work anywhere and see any age group. I'd have to go back to school for a post-Masters certificate and sit for another exam if I wanted to be certified in peds or Women's health. I believe that would be another year of school and clinicals. I felt well prepared to work as a novice FNP after graduation, despite never having worked as an RN. Be prepared to hear from some people that direct entry programs are a bad idea and there's no way you can be successful as an NP without RN experience. I can only speak for myself, and I'm doing just fine in my position. You will also find others that are extremely supportive. Just work hard and let your performance speak for itself.

Hope this info helps. Feel free to private message me if you would like to talk more.

Juliet417 · Feb 25, 2010

Wow, thank you for all that great information about your experiences, it's nice to hear from someone who graduated from a similar program. And you answered another one of my questions that I forgot to ask, which was how FNPs from direct entry programs fare on the job. Would you mind if I asked you about how many clinic hours you had upon graduation, and whether you were licensed as an RN long before getting the FNP certificate? Through this program I will be able to obtain RN licensure after 1.5 years, leaving 2.5 years to do the FNP portion while working in the field. I'm hoping that will provide ample enough experience before getting that FNP. I want to be ready, so I'm willing to work my butt off!

Another question I wanted to ask- what is the highest salary an FNP can expect to make at the peak of their career? I realize it varies according to the area, but ballparking it, could you expect around a 10K increase-or more, or less? Also, does the "name" of the school make too much of a difference when you're working/getting hired? I'm trying to decide between this FNP program and one at a "bigger name" school, but which isn't as good a fit for me career and location-wise.

Again, thanks for your helpfulness in answering my questions, I really do appreciate it! :)

lesrn2005 · Feb 25, 2010

Hi,
Congrats on your acceptance! I'm a May 2009 grad of a direct entry MSN program (FNP track). I honestly had no trouble getting a job-I had 3 decent offers before graduation. I'm not sure if that's common across the country, but all the FNPs in my program had jobs within a month after graduation. Grads in the other tracks (Pedi, Women's health, Adult) had more of a challenge finding jobs, but I think pretty much everyone did find something within 6 months. Salaries for new grads ranged from $80K-$90K (in the Boston area). I took a lower paying job in an urban community health center in return for loan repayment from the National Health Service (something I highly recommend looking into!). I'm very happy with my career. I work 4 10 hour shifts, one Saturday a month, and no nights or major holidays. I never have to be on call, either. Most of my classmates are working in outpatient primary care settings and have similar "deals". I am very much a generalist in my position- I do primary care, urgent care, women's health (but no OB), and some mental health (prescribing, not counseling). I don't see kids in my current position. The beauty of being certified as an FNP is that you can pretty much work anywhere and see any age group. I'd have to go back to school for a post-Masters certificate and sit for another exam if I wanted to be certified in peds or Women's health. I believe that would be another year of school and clinicals. I felt well prepared to work as a novice FNP after graduation, despite never having worked as an RN. Be prepared to hear from some people that direct entry programs are a bad idea and there's no way you can be successful as an NP without RN experience. I can only speak for myself, and I'm doing just fine in my position. You will also find others that are extremely supportive. Just work hard and let your performance speak for itself.
Hope this info helps. Feel free to private message me if you would like to talk more.

BCGrad: Did you work full or part-time while doing FNP program?

allnurses Guide · Feb 28, 2010

I worked part time as a medical technologist (my original career) while I went to school. I got my RN after 1 year in the program, and did look for a part time RN job but had no success, so I stayed in the lab. The NP portion took another year. My program was very accelerated and granted an RN-MSN, not a BSN-MSN, so it was shorter than most BSN-MSN programs.

I don't know what the highest salary a NP can expect. I would guess it varies considerably by state, type of practice, etc. I know it's not far fetched to make $100,000 after some years of experience, but I don't know if it goes any higher.

As far as going to a "big name" school-I did go that route and I know it opened some doors for me, but I'm not sure how much it matters in the long run.

My program required 700 NP clinical hours. I did as many hours as I could fit in cause I wanted as much experience as possible, so I think I was closer to 800 hours when I finished. I stopped keeping track once I hit the 700.

chellepnp2007 · Feb 28, 2010

You can expect to top out higher in your salary if you work in an ER setting with longer and irregular shifts. If you work for a cardiologist, neurologist, etc. it can go even higher. 120+++ with years of experience. FNP is a great way to go. Much more flexible. coming from an experienced PNP, Pediatric salaries tend to be lower. But I must say if you want to do peds, I strongly recommend a pnp program because I find non pediatric specialist providers are not usually up to the challenge of peds. Much easier to find a job if you are an FNP especially in nonurban centers.

Katie5 · Mar 2, 2010

Hi,
Congrats on your acceptance! I'm a May 2009 grad of a direct entry MSN program (FNP track). I honestly had no trouble getting a job-I had 3 decent offers before graduation. I'm not sure if that's common across the country, but all the FNPs in my program had jobs within a month after graduation. Grads in the other tracks (Pedi, Women's health, Adult) had more of a challenge finding jobs, but I think pretty much everyone did find something within 6 months. Salaries for new grads ranged from $80K-$90K (in the Boston area). I took a lower paying job in an urban community health center in return for loan repayment from the National Health Service (something I highly recommend looking into!). I'm very happy with my career. I work 4 10 hour shifts, one Saturday a month, and no nights or major holidays. I never have to be on call, either. Most of my classmates are working in outpatient primary care settings and have similar "deals". I am very much a generalist in my position- I do primary care, urgent care, women's health (but no OB), and some mental health (prescribing, not counseling). I don't see kids in my current position. The beauty of being certified as an FNP is that you can pretty much work anywhere and see any age group. I'd have to go back to school for a post-Masters certificate and sit for another exam if I wanted to be certified in peds or Women's health. I believe that would be another year of school and clinicals. I felt well prepared to work as a novice FNP after graduation, despite never having worked as an RN. Be prepared to hear from some people that direct entry programs are a bad idea and there's no way you can be successful as an NP without RN experience. I can only speak for myself, and I'm doing just fine in my position. You will also find others that are extremely supportive. Just work hard and let your performance speak for itself.
Hope this info helps. Feel free to private message me if you would like to talk more.

Sounds very good. How long of an RN experience did you have?

allnurses Guide · Mar 3, 2010

Katie,

I went right into an NP job. I have not worked as an RN.

sourapril · Apr 5, 2010

BCgradnurse,

Which school did you graduate from? Did you have any clinical experience prior to joining the master program?

Thanks!

Hi,
Congrats on your acceptance! I'm a May 2009 grad of a direct entry MSN program (FNP track). I honestly had no trouble getting a job-I had 3 decent offers before graduation. I'm not sure if that's common across the country, but all the FNPs in my program had jobs within a month after graduation. Grads in the other tracks (Pedi, Women's health, Adult) had more of a challenge finding jobs, but I think pretty much everyone did find something within 6 months. Salaries for new grads ranged from $80K-$90K (in the Boston area). I took a lower paying job in an urban community health center in return for loan repayment from the National Health Service (something I highly recommend looking into!). I'm very happy with my career. I work 4 10 hour shifts, one Saturday a month, and no nights or major holidays. I never have to be on call, either. Most of my classmates are working in outpatient primary care settings and have similar "deals". I am very much a generalist in my position- I do primary care, urgent care, women's health (but no OB), and some mental health (prescribing, not counseling). I don't see kids in my current position. The beauty of being certified as an FNP is that you can pretty much work anywhere and see any age group. I'd have to go back to school for a post-Masters certificate and sit for another exam if I wanted to be certified in peds or Women's health. I believe that would be another year of school and clinicals. I felt well prepared to work as a novice FNP after graduation, despite never having worked as an RN. Be prepared to hear from some people that direct entry programs are a bad idea and there's no way you can be successful as an NP without RN experience. I can only speak for myself, and I'm doing just fine in my position. You will also find others that are extremely supportive. Just work hard and let your performance speak for itself.
Hope this info helps. Feel free to private message me if you would like to talk more.

allnurses Guide · Apr 5, 2010

I went to Boston College. I worked for many years in another area of healthcare prior to going to nursing school. I had some direct patient experience, but most of my work was administrative/laboratory.

FNPdude74 · Apr 12, 2010

Wow bcgrad, this is very reassuring that I would be able to work as an FNP after I graduate in august 2011 from UH Manoa in Hawaii. I plan move to the mainland as there are no jobs here in Hawaii and it's been like this for a long time. I graduated with my BSN in spring May 2009 and I went directly Ito the FNP program while my friends all were searching for jobs...some are working as RNs but some are still doing nurse aide or ward clerk work. Thanks. Can I email you for more questions if I have?

allnurses Guide · Apr 12, 2010

Sure...either post something here or PM me.