new grads of direct entry programs: are you paid as an NP or an entry level nurse?

[chickpea25]

Hello everyone,

I am nearing the point where I should be hearing back from schools about interviews to their direct entry nursing programs (I've already scheduled an interview with one!) and I'm suddenly freaking out about the outcome of all this. I mean, what happens when I graduate as an NP with no prior nursing experience, aside from the clinical portion during the program? I ask this because I am really worried about paying back loans after graduation. What if, and this is what I predict, I will have to work at entry level nurse's pay for several years before I am paid commensurate with the level of education I have? It's not that I mind working as an entry level nurse to gain experience, but at what stage are you finally paid as a nurse practitioner? Or maybe, I have no clue what I'm talking about here, hehe. I have no idea, really, how nurses salaries are scaled with regard to advanced degrees and experience levels, which is why I'm asking these questions.

I also wonder if I choose psychiatric mental health nursing, will they hire me first as an entry level nurse in this speciality or will I automatically be assigned responsibilities as a nurse practitioner? In many professions (teaching I know for a fact) they automatically raise your starting salary if you are hired with a masters degree, regardless of experience. Obviously, this is not recommended in the healthcare field, where experience is considered more important. It's just something I've been thinking about the last couple of days and haven't been able to find an answer to. Last minute worries, I suppose, as I wait for letters in the mail.

~chickpea

[UVA Grad Nursing]

The change for entry into Advanced Practice (NP, CNS, CRNA, CMN) by 2015 was an aspirational goal. It is not a mandate, nor a requirement. The only specialty organization that has embraced the Doctor of Nursing Practice movement with full force are the Anesthetists. The MSN in Nurse Anesthesia will no longer be an exit point after 2022. All programs preparing CRNAs will be doctoral programs only in about 10 years time.

There are two primary types of Direct Entry program now. One prepares people for specialty focus and practice at the completion of a 2.5-3.5 year program. The other type prepares someone for an advanced generalist position (clinical nurse leader) in 1.5-2 years. Graduates from these Direct Entry generalist programs (like UCLA, USF, Rush, Maryland, Virginia, etc) could enter an advanced specialty program as a post-masters or DNP student after the completion of their MSN.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

At our medical center, all new grads (whether ADN, BSN, direct-entry CNL, or direct entry NP) start as Clinician I. The difference in salary is 25 cents an hour for AD vs BSN/MSN grads. After 2-3 years of work experience, the direct-entry NP grads have enough practical work experience to be competitive for the NP positions. We have two clinical ladders (Clinician I-IV for most positions, and a differnet ladder for Advanced Practice roles).

so, are you saying that a newly graduated nurse practitioner coudlnt' get hired as a nurse practitioner? that she/he would get hired as a staff nurse? or is this only the direct-entry nurse practitioner graduates, who have had no experience in floor nursing?

[UVA Grad Nursing]

so, are you saying that a newly graduated nurse practitioner coudlnt' get hired as a nurse practitioner? that she/he would get hired as a staff nurse? or is this only the direct-entry nurse practitioner graduates, who have had no experience in floor nursing?

Happy: At UVa Med Center, it is the Direct Entry NPs who are hired as Clinician Is for general bedside, inpatient care. To be competitive for a NP position (inpatient or outpatient), one needs at least 3-4 years of fulltime, RN experience. RNs who went the more 'traditional route' (ADN or BSN to MSN) and working while in a NP program have that practical, several years of work experience that makes them competitive for NP positions.