Demand for NPs? Sources?

Trauma Columnist · Dec 11, 2008

I think much of the info you find here will be anecdotal and changes often. If you can identify what area in the US you are looking and/or what type of NP you are, that might help.

If you are looking for numbers for some kind of research, perhaps look into some job forecast sites.

climberrn · Dec 11, 2008

I mostly want to have information to present so I can convince my husband that I'll have a job after we pay 45,000 in tuition. By job forecast sites do you mean places like Monster?

Trauma Columnist · Dec 11, 2008

Yes, or something like a .gov site. Also - if you are trying to convince your husband, what about your Sunday paper, the hospital employment websites in your area, your state's advanced practice organization website?

ANPFNPGNP · Dec 11, 2008

I mostly want to have information to present so I can convince my husband that I'll have a job after we pay 45,000 in tuition. By job forecast sites do you mean places like Monster?

FYI, I'm beginning to have my doubts about the need for midlevels in the future. I'm beginning to see an oversupply of NP's in my area. We have an online program here and they are dumping NP's on the market like you wouldn't believe. I don't know of any new NP grads (from May) who were able to find jobs in this area. We getting ready to have even more NP's dumped on the market next week. Fortunately, I'm board certified in 3 specialties and have almost 4 years of experience, so I've done well. I sure as heck wouldn't want to be a new NP grad around here, that's for sure!

I don't know how it is in other states, but Texas has made it a lot easier for foreign trained physicians to get a license. The past 2 seesions, the BOM has licensed record numbers of new physicians (the majority foreign trained) and over 90% of them are going into primary care. These foreign docs aren't having a problem moving to rural areas, b/c they're just happy to get a job. In one of the rural towns where I work in the ER, every single doctor I work with trained in a foreign country. I'm 49 and I'm hoping to retire by the age of 55, so hopefully the oversupply won't affect me. However, my daughter is in a BSN program and she was hoping to become a NP. I'm not so sure that's such a wise decision. At 2 of the ER's where I work, almost every single RN is currently attending the local online program.

Sorry to burst your bubble, b/c I know how excited I was about becoming a NP. I'm just trying to present reality b/f you go out and spend all that time and money and then find you'll continue working as a RN.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Dec 11, 2008

I mostly want to have information to present so I can convince my husband that I'll have a job after we pay 45,000 in tuition. By job forecast sites do you mean places like Monster?

That's pretty pricey. You may want to shop around. Also, if you are going to an exclusive traditional classroom based program, make sure you add for gas, parking, lost time from work to go to class, etc.

Although a bit outdated, here are some programs you might want to check out:

First column is school, second is cost/credit, third is total credits for program and last is total tuition for program. Again, make sure you double check as this list is about 2 years old:

University of Southern Indiana $232 42 $9,744

South Dakota State University $240 49 $11,760

Indiana State University $278 48 $13,344

Ball State University $364 48 $17,472

Graceland College $445 43 $19,135

SUNY--Stony Brook $455 45 $20,475

Indiana University-Purdue $536 42 $22,512

Frontier Nursing $395 57 22515

University of Texas--Arlington $484 51 $24,684

University of Alabama--Birmingham $518 49 $25,382

Northern Kentucky University $573 47 $26,931

California State University--Dominguez Hills $561 50 $28,050.00

Felician College $675 46 $31,050

Western University of Health Sciences $580 55 $31,900

East Carolina University $644 50 $32,200

Old Dominion University $715 47 $33,605

Duquesne University $751 46 $34,546

Duke University $785 45 $35,325

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Dec 11, 2008

Also, USI has changed. Their total fee, with distance and tech included is now $267/credit. They are also booked for the next five years with students.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 11, 2008

Much depends on your area and/or if you are willing/able to move. In central IL, where I live, there are numerous APN positions posted.

core0 · Dec 12, 2008

Much depends on your area and/or if you are willing/able to move. In central IL, where I live, there are numerous APN positions posted.

It also depends on the prevailing RN wage in the area. If you are in Northern California the prevailing RN wage is now above the NP wage. You also have to consider that as an NP you will be paid as a new grad NP. If you are an experienced nurse this will frequently be a pay cut for the first few years.

There are not very many good resources for NP salaries. Monster and similar engines are usually low by a factor of $10-15,000 (at least on the PA side).

Advance for NP has their salary survey which will give you nationwide results:

http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=105177

On other method is to use the PA data for your state and see how much it correlates with the NP data from advance.

http://www.aapa.org/research/StateReports08/index.html

All in all the only good way is to network and find salary information which is probably difficult.

David Carpenter, PA-C

*RN123ABC* · Dec 12, 2008

Also, USI has changed. Their total fee, with distance and tech included is now $267/credit. They are also booked for the next five years with students.

Great. I wish I'd known that before I paid the app fee last week. I despise throwing money away. :crying2:

climberrn · Jan 4, 2009

I could have sworn I replied....

Tammy79, thanks for all your research on costs! Unfortunately I'm looking for a program that's pretty limited (pediatric critical care NP) which has only a handful of programs, currently most are private universities, hence the elevated $$$$.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Jan 4, 2009

I could have sworn I replied....
Tammy79, thanks for all your research on costs! Unfortunately I'm looking for a program that's pretty limited (pediatric critical care NP) which has only a handful of programs, currently most are private universities, hence the elevated $$$$.

I'm curious. What/where have you found? Do the grads take the pediatric or the acute care NP exam? I know in my sister program at USI the ACNP students don't have much in the way of peds rotations.