NP in pediatric nursing , some questions??

bergren · Jun 9, 2002

Dear MS,

It depends.....

Here in Minneapolis, there is an oversupply of NPs. This prevents some NPs from getting jobs, others from working as many hours as they would prefer, and keeps the salaries artuifically low.

So you should check out the supply of NPs where you want to live.

On the other hand, if that is the type of practice that you would prefer - the autonomy, the setting, that type of relationship with families and kids - maybe those things won't matter to you.

Martha

ERNurse752, RN · Jun 26, 2002

My peds instructor in nsg school is a PNP, and a know a couple other PNP's who work as staff nurses in my ER...they all said that being specialized as a PNP kept them from getting jobs b/c they were too specialized. They recommend being as generalized as possible, such as doing Family NP, and then getting a job in peds with that.

Good luck with the rest of school! :)

catlady101 · Oct 20, 2002

If you want to work in a specialized hospital or in an urban/ suburban area PNP's may be a dime a dozen. In Inner cities that are underserved there is a need as well as rural areas.

But don't you think you should get some experience under your belt before making a decision like that? If you have never worked in a nursing field for real how do you know what kind of specialty you should go into? Get a few years experience then decide.

Catlady

:roll

Alley Cat · Oct 20, 2002

I agree with Catlady. Typically people who become NP's have had several years of clinical experience; decision-making is a skill that's only learned through practice, not from a book. Practitioner exams also are tough--sometimes experienced people have a hard time passing. Just an FYI. ;-) Best of luck to you, M.S.!

catlady101 · Oct 20, 2002

The other thing I forgot to mention was that most of the NP's I know who are working at staff level positions do so because they choose to, many could not cut it as NP's, they like having the staff doc to fall back on. Everyone I know who really wanted to work as an NP is, it may not be FT but they are working, some may pick up hours in a pool. Teaching is nothing to degrade either...it takes a special person to teach, the hours are long and their homework is as much if not more than the students at times.

catlady

:roll

Mattigan, RN · Oct 29, 2002

In some rural areas (I am in a rural area) to work as PNP you would mostly have to work for the state health department. Much lower pay and I know 4 PNP's who gave it up and moved because the decrease in their salary did not work well with the increase in their malpractice. Do a search to see if the payoff will be worth the price of obtaining and keeping it in the area you want to work.