Way too many NP programs and grads!

[momofm1998]

It seems every school in the USA has opened a NP program. Online, part online, 18 mos, 2 years, bridge type, transition, Carribean and on and on. To them it is good business and thats the bottom line. Quanity not quality seems to be their goal. Just churn them out and collect the tuition. If you have the money - you will have a degree.

And sadly, many students are not particuarly interested in nursing, just a good steady paycheck. A dilution of the market is definitely on the rise. I am not at all surprised that many old MDs are pushing back. These old men of medicine arent concerned about their pay being challenged by these mass produced NPs, their retirement is secure, their money making days are behind them, but are concerned that everything they have worked for is being slowly taken apart by greedy schools and money (not a passion to heal) driven individuals.

America is not as short on healthcare providers as media may report, look at the vast number of posts of people who cant find a job in healthcare. The market will become saturated due to huge numbers of RN's, NPs being cranked out of schools every six months. It is time for schools to return to making certain every graduate reflects well on that school and brings excellence to the field.

If you look at the recent chart of nationwide salaries of NP's, you will see several decreases in salaries across the board. Fifteen states have decreased NPs salaries and one by as much as almost 27%. Shortage? really?? If a shortage exists, dropping salaries is certainly no way to correct it. I personally know of colleagues who have told me their salary as an RN is better than if they invest time, and extraordinary amounts of money to obtain NP status. I know of CCU RN's making five to eight dollars more per hour than NPs in the area.

How long til NPs will go the way my early days of nursing did....agency work, night work, weekends only, just to put food on the table. Oh, wow! thats what I am doing right now! And wth dilution of quality, having to defend my every decision about pt care, and losing the respect of the community.

Mark my words, the nursing bubble is coming.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ok....so.....what are you seeking here? To stop people from becoming NPs? I would doubt you'd have much success; people will do what they want to do.

Look at all the brand new RNs and LPNs who cannot find employment. And yet there are thousands more filling the parking lots outside nursing schools, trying to get in the door to enroll.

[Angeljho, MSN, NP]

And sadly, many students are not particuarly interested in nursing, just a good steady paycheck.

So? Not every nurse has to be Florence Nightingale. Many people choose careers for financial stability, but that doesn't make them incompetent or bad at their jobs.

[EmergencyRN22]

It's up to the prospective student to find a quality program. Even those nps from "lousy" schools may not even pass boards.

Unfortunately, healthcare is a business. If there are ways to reduce salary (and nps to accept that pay) it will always happen. The phrase, do more with less, comes to mind.

Those who go into patient care (Na, LPN, RN, NP, PA, Drs) and if their heart isn't in "it" - they will burn out and leave the profession. Unfortunately, happens with all careers to an extent.

[reluctantrn]

I could not agree with you more. And I see people graduating that scare me to death and, that I would never want to provide my care. The sad thing is, this is going to cause people to not want to use any NP's because it can be hard to tell the good from the bad. In fact, I will only see a NP if I personally know them or if I run to the CVS minute clinic for a quick flu test, not for their skill at real hands on diagnosis. This will further harm the respect/pay and job opportunities for NP's.

It is another reason that I feel alright about my recent decision to leave nursing and pursue another career. Nurse midwives are another thing though. There are fewer programs and they demand better applicants and produce better caregivers.

Have you thought about getting your post-graduate certificate in midwifery or another specialty, that is not so saturated? You sound like you enjoy being a nurse and care for your patients.

[EmergencyRN22]

There are good NP'S and bad ones. Just like there are good Dr's and bad ones.

Gotta think, they "all" weren't top of their class. Your doc could have been an average or "barely passed" too.

Just like every other profession ...you have great, mediocre, and bad. True with Drs, RNs, mechanics, teachers and every other freakin job.

[Dranger]

Most people just don't want to bedside nursing their entire careers (I know I don't) or perhaps they enjoy the autonomy of making HC decisions. You can't stop them and if these "subpar" grads pass the boards that's all on the regulatory bodies.

Plenty of RN schools out there too with hungry students waiting to get in, they can have my job if they want lol. HC is a revolving door.

If you don't have anything in your area then move, I guarantee there are plenty of NP jobs if you look. Not everything is going to be ideal when you start out, you have to sacrifice.

[Jules A, MSN]

There are good NP'S and bad ones. Just like there are good Dr's and bad ones.

Gotta think, they "all" weren't top of their class. Your doc could have been an average or "barely passed" too.

Just like every other profession ...you have great, mediocre, and bad. True with Drs, RNs, mechanics, teachers and every other freakin job.

You are absolutely correct and I sometimes need to remind myself that I know as many incompetent psychiatrists as I do psych-NPs. Since it is personal and the NPs are representing my profession I do take special offense to those who do not have the experience or skill set to do our job competently. Fortunately I have worked in this specialty for awhile and have a decent reputation but it still stings when I admit a patient on an egregious medication regimen that was prescribed by a psych-NP.

Personally I'm not so sure it totally about the formal education they received as much as their experience and innate abilities but the masses of schools cranking out "advanced practice" nurses sure aren't helping with overall quality, imo.

[reluctantrn]

Dear EmergencyRN22,

Good point. Not every doctor graduates first in their class either. They do have higher entry point standards and longer education though.

[cmatt004]

I could not agree more!! I feel they should make all NP's have a DNP for entry level practice.This will help solve many of these issues!!

[elkpark]

There are good NP'S and bad ones. Just like there are good Dr's and bad ones.

Gotta think, they "all" weren't top of their class. Your doc could have been an average or "barely passed" too.

True -- the difference being, none of those physicians were average or barely passing in a proprietary diploma mill school that they attended online and arranged their own clinical education ...

[Aromatic]

True -- the difference being, none of those physicians were average or barely passing in a proprietary diploma mill school that they attended online and arranged their own clinical education ...

yeah pretty much. med school overall filters those who don't need to be there out better than NP school. that being said. both can make great providers if they work hard and have some aptitude.