Are there NPs who work as RNs in Massachusetts or NH

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jun 7, 2015

I am not sure where you are looking for employment, but I have many NP friends in both states (I am in NH) and they all make significantly more in that role than when they were bedside RNs. All work in the hospital or urgent care setting.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jun 7, 2015

So in short, if you are close to finishing your program...then keep going! I don't think you'll regret it.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2015

I know several NPs who continue to do staff nurse work per diem.

I don't understand why you'd go through an entire MSN/ACNP program and NOT use your degree/training though. That would seem like a huge waste of time and money if your goal is to continue working as an RN.

chincka · Jun 8, 2015

@ MelMarie23 - That's interesting to hear. The hospitals in the Boston area pay staff nurses a good bit. I have spoken to a few newly graduated NPs in the area and I am basically making what they are making by picking up a few extra hours and teaching clinicals for a local college. Another RN I currently work with graduated last semester and has gone on a couple of interviews. She does per diem and told me that she is upset because she would have to take a $10k/year pay cut to accept any of the jobs she has interviewed for. I won't really know until I get out there and interview for myself, but it isn't sounding good. Also, I was trying to stay out of downtown Boston. It's hell trying to get in and out of there and the parking is sporifice and outrageous.

Also, I was never planning on quitting. I'm going to finish. I'm just not sure I will actually use the degree.

@KelRN215 - When I went back to school it wasn't AT ALL my intention to not use my degree. I wasn't happy with my job and the state I was in offered a much higher salary for NPs. Then I started travel nursing and I ended up in MA. It wasn't my intention to stay here, either, but now I have a significant other who owns a business here and can't leave. It's always a boy's fault, huh? ; ) But also, I now work in an ICU that I enjoy with people I actually like. Having worked in over 20 different units, I can tell you that it isn't all that easy to find that.

At any rate, I am just trying to make the best of an unusual situation by having as much information as possible.

Thank you both for your input.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jun 8, 2015

Then I would think about staying a bedside RN in your current situation, and picking up a few shifts in local urgent care/MD office.

Best wishes!

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2015

When you walk out the door from school, you will have an MSN. This my it's very nature will open doors. You can teach, take any number of different jobs in the hospital.

The problem that most new graduates run into is that many of the NP jobs are salaried. Not all but many. This can mean more hours and less money. This is just starting out. The caps as an NP are usually a bit higher. Cardiology, electrophysiology are areas that pay significantly more than your average FNP job does. Primary care is primary care doesn't pay very good for anyone, MD, PA or NP. WHen it comes to $$ think in the long term.

Another thing to remember is there are many nurses who get their MSN as an NP and never plan to use it. My last boss was like that. She retook the test whenever it was needed, but never worked as an NP.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jun 9, 2015

Chincka, one is an acute care NP working in Worcester (worked in an outpatient surgical center prior to this) and the other works per diem as hospitalist covering the med/surge units and then in the ED Full time at another hospital (sometimes rotates to their urgent care center). All make well over 6 figures starting (in Lawrence MA and Manchester NH). So I guess it depends on the speciality and setting you get into.

chincka · Jun 9, 2015

Thank you all for your responses. I have been looking other places and am basically finding mixed messages everywhere, so I appreciate your input.