Is the market becoming saturated with NPs??

[DroogieRN]

Considering RN-MSN now, and since I already have a BA in another field, the route to BSN is pretty quick, then on to MSN -- always planned and hoped I'd become a nurse practitioner, but it seems like everywhere I turn, someone else is entering a NP program. Will there really still be a market for all the NPs that seem to be in school now?

[SkiBumNP]

I would take a hard look at what you want to do with your MSN.

If you want to be a primary provider then go the NP/PA route.

But if you want to work as an RN then look more at the CNS programs that are out there.

All are good choices, but if it's not what you want to be doing then you won't be happy in the long run.

[nur77]

I have been wondering the same thing. Glad to know I'm not alone. There seems like there is a lot of talk about the great need for NPs.. I would love to do it too, but lately have been afraid of applying because it seems there are way too many nurses going to do it now. I can think of about 5 people I know in NP school, and am constantly hearing of people returning to do it.. I really don't want to go to school to do something and then not have a job due to the market being saturated!

[UVA Grad Nursing]

It depends on where you want to work, and what your NP is in.

I live in Charlottesville, Virginia. My university started educating NPs in the early 1970s (the first in the state). The city is saturated with primary care NPs (FNP, ANP and PNP), and new jobs open generally only when current primary care NPs retire. However, the two Magnet hospitals in town are still looking for Neonatal NPs, Acute Care PNPs, and ACNPs.

There are FNP jobs in many of the rural counties (an hour or so away). These would be positions providing much needed primary care to underserved individuals and communities. There are also FNP positions in retail stores (Walmarts, pharmacies, etc).

If you want to be a NP, I'd encourage you to think of where you want to work. Are you open for moving? Also, what precisely do you want to do in terms of your practice. Every week I speak with prospective students who want to work in ICUs and think that a FNP certification would prepare them for this.

[CRF250Xpert]

The messiah granted free socialized medicine to every person in America and you wonder if you'll have a job if you become a NP? When reimbursement goes to nothing, the MDs will quit and who is going to fill that gap providing free care for peanuts - you guessed it - nurses. I'll just switch careers again, because I don't do scut work for peanuts anymore.

[mammac5]

I think it's sort of like when you buy a green truck. Seems like you never saw a green truck before you bought one...but now you see them everywhere!

If you're thinking of NP education you are likely paying a lot more attention to anything you hear/see/read about NPs than you ever did before. If possible, make some contacts with physician/NP/PA recruiters at hospital systems in geographic areas where you would like to practice. Those people are "in the know" about the job markets in their areas and can give you an idea of whether it appears (now, at least) that practices and/or hospitals are going to be looking to hire around your completion date.

No one has an accurate crystal ball for what the job outlook will be in 2, 3, 20 years. Recruiters may be as close as one can get at this time.

[ktliz]

Here is a recent thread on the topic: https://allnurses.com/nurse-practitioners-np/everyone-going-np-536267.html

[coco3299]

The messiah granted free socialized medicine to every person in America and you wonder if you'll have a job if you become a NP? When reimbursement goes to nothing, the MDs will quit and who is going to fill that gap providing free care for peanuts - you guessed it - nurses. I'll just switch careers again, because I don't do scut work for peanuts anymore.

The Messiah? Be lucky you have a job. Getting paid peanuts in your scenario would take years, in the meantime be happy you have a CAREER that is lasting. Stop trying to find any excuse to get to the end result in your mind that was made up before an action even took place... just searching for a reason to down talk. Take a look around, the reason nursing became this big boom everywhere you look is because Medicare became this free for all and places where hiring nurses to keep up with the need. Now that Medicare has been sucked dry the hospitals are turning patients away and telling them to follow up with PCP where they used to admit them for any and everything. And calling off nurses for low census and there is an overflow of new grads who were told how great the profession could be long term and now the door is being closed in their face. So say what you will about THE MESSIAH but I am sure you will be taking those patients you get because of the reform. If you dont like it then go somewhere else.

And while I'm on my soap box if you have an opposition to mandated insurance, then fine! sign a waiver saying you won't come to the ER if you have an emergency and tell your patients the same. If you dont want car insurance then you dont drive a care. We cannot afford to keep taking cases and not getting paid.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Some markets are, yes. I am moving to Oregon. No jobs here, at all, and even if someone vacated a position, I'd make $28/hour. So, know your target market before taking the leap. Good luck.