Advice?? Having trouble finding NP job.

Psychcns · Jun 30, 2017

If you are willing to move how about locums to permanent positions. Or get a recruiter.

allnurses Guide · Jul 1, 2017

You can work for retail health for a year and get experience while still making some good money. If you are looking at online postings they are all going to "require" experience but in truth most of their hires won't have any. More importantly, the best jobs are never posted: get out there and network with your state NP association!

2bNotAnotherMaleNurse7 · Jul 2, 2017

You have to be an FNP to do retail clinics, according to their sites you have to be comfortable taking care of 18 month old's and older. I think she said she was adult/gero. I passed my boards in September last year, and didn't start working until march this year. I took the first job offer I got cos I was so down about not having a job. Now that I do, I regret taking this job, and should have waited for a better opportunity. Keep applying, everywhere in your state. I moved 4 hours away from everything I know to start working as NP. When I see people posting about help with job offers, I'm wondering what the heck did I do wrong for me to get one job offer in six months.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 2, 2017

2bNotAnotherMaleNurse7 said:
When I see people posting about help with job offers, I'm wondering what the heck did I do wrong for me to get one job offer in six months.

My guess is you did nothing wrong other than to buy into the hype that there is a shortage of NPs when in fact the number graduating and attempting to practice are increasing in numbers such there is no way it will support a decent supply vs demand scenario. That and the fact that so many have no nursing background or ability to practice competently after graduating from HackU that employers are being far more selective now than in years before.

For NP students the most helpful strategy in my opinion is to have a job lined up prior to graduation from one of your clinical sites. I always advise selecting your sites as potential long term job interviews rather than just taking whatever site you can get. Of course many students now, not directing this at you 2bNotAnotherMaleNurse7, don't even know a single NP and have no professional contacts prior to forking out large sums of money for school which makes it difficult and in which case I would treat whatever site you get stuck with as an informal interview for possible employment after graduation.

My guess is this will only continue to get worse.

2bNotAnotherMaleNurse7 · Jul 2, 2017

There are so many jobs available. The problem is nobody is willing to take the time to teach new grads the ways of the office. They're all so used to the hospital setting, the office is a completely different world. They want people with experience so they can train them for a day on the emr, and throw them into their practice because it's too busy for them to teach. The demand for nps is growing, but only for the ones that have experience. Once we get that year or two under our belt, we''ll be much more marketable. I do agree that the best way is to have a job lined up while in school, and wish I did that, but my clinicals were chosen for me, and even if I did choose my clinical, it's not always a guarantee to have a job lined up there.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 2, 2017

2bNotAnotherMaleNurse7 said:
They want people with experience so they can train them for a day on the emr, and throw them into their practice because it's too busy for them to teach.

I'm not really seeing as many NP jobs being posted as compared to a few years ago and from what I know the reasons places aren't hiring new grads includes that the majority have not been prepared by their schools to practice to their full scope upon graduation. Even the teaching hospital where I work has tightened their precepting requirements. If a NP student isn't already working in the system or has their own inside connection willing to precept they aren't welcome due both to the overwhelming numbers and poor quality of students recently.

Not that a new provider won't need some support but the expectations of long orientations that also require another member of the staff's time to basically teach the newbie their entire job is unrealistic in my opinion.

allnurses Guide · Jul 2, 2017

I think adult-gero primary NP is limiting - its very specific, and most outpatient primary care clinics want FNP. You could try long term facilities or home visits to get some experience.

I see a ton of jobs in Pgh but almost all ACNP or FNP. You could consider a post masters FNP or other cert if you need to broaden your marketability. Network also- contact local NP associations, your alumni assoc from your school etc for job opportunities

espress099 · Jul 7, 2017

I'm in the Washington DC area and I'm also having a hard time finding a job as a new NP. I do have RN experience but I'm finding that my classmates are all getting jobs from people they know, not job boards. I have a recruiter and have applied to over 40 jobs in both the DMV and CA in the past 2 months. I've only had one call so far. I'm not sure what to tell you, I'm becoming discouraged as well. I have had recruiters (who contacted me via linkedIn) reach out from places in the midwest like missouri and michigan but I'm not willing to move there- if you are then make sure your profile is up to date on linked in.

You could try reaching out to Barton Assoc- i have a recruiter through them, though still haven't had any luck- they are based mainly in CA.

Good luck

DizzyJ DHSc PA-C · Jul 7, 2017

Cleveland Clinic has several postings for NPs accepting adult only certification.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 7, 2017

espress099 said:
I'm in the Washington DC area and I'm also having a hard time finding a job as a new NP. I do have RN experience but I'm finding that my classmates are all getting jobs from people they know, not job boards.

Things have really tightened up in this area, which personally I think is good because it is making it more difficult for those with no RN experience to get jobs however due to high supply it is unfortunate folk with experience are also struggling. Don't you have any colleagues you can call in a favor with to get your foot in the door somewhere?

Psychcns · Jul 7, 2017

What about specialty clinics that are

More likely to only see adults

I.e. Cardiology, diabetes. Also, there must be general adult-geriatric clinics.