Wages: RN vs. NP??

[shannonFNP]

I'm not questioning anyone's choice of profession, so I don't want to offend anyone or spark any posts of "follow your heart, not your pocket book." But as a student RN, I would really like to one day advance further from an RN to a NP or CRNA. However, I used salary.com (granted, I know it's not 100% accurate), and when I looked at the expected paycheck of a nurse practioner, it ended up only being $600 more than a RN after $1500 worth of taxes were taken out (Texas figures). I would LOVE to be a nurse practioner, believe me! But loving a job doesn't pay student loans. So I was wondering if these figures were accurate in your experience? I guess being a current CNA while in school, taxes (while I don't like them) have never had more than $120 effect on my meager paycheck. Thank you all for the help :)

[drfitness]

christen, rn, are you going to specialize in orthopedics with your masters? how do you like being an orthopedic nurse right now?

[dgclough]

StormanNorman, What rural areas are you talking about...I'm also in this perdicament. I'm starting my NP in August but live in Rural Missouri, might consider moving depending on the cost of living etc but a NP here makes just $40/hr...and thats for a NP with 18 yrs experience....

[Christen, ANP]

christen, rn, are you going to specialize in orthopedics with your masters? how do you like being an orthopedic nurse right now?

i might, but right now i'm leaning towards primary care, hospitalist, or critical care / pulmonary. i am more interested in the "medical" vs "surgical" -type of patient. :)