Funny, just after I read a thread here predicting that one day NP's will have to be going back to the bedside because of the surplus of them, I went over to browse new job openings at some of the hospitals around here. A major hospital in Nashville is advertising for neuro ICU nurses and specifies they would rather have APN's.
As far as I know this means Advanced Practice Nurse.
Nurse Practitioner.
For a bedside position.
Is this a new trend? Or, am I imagining things? Maybe I don't understand.
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
well, there is a shortage of NPs in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
There are positions that have zero if any applicants.
The salary is comparable if not higher than what NPs are paid in the USA
and we have a much better benefits package. I believe that our pay is better here in my neck of the woods. Not to mention that we don't have
to fight with insurance companies over coverage.
hospital positions are available but as NPs not as nps doing rn work.
come up north.
I hear ya'. Many of the Canadian RN's in our ICU who went on to pursue NP training have returned to Canada to work as NP's and are actually getting compensated better than most NP's in the US.
well, there is a shortage of NPs in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
There are positions that have zero if any applicants.
The salary is comparable if not higher than what NPs are paid in the USA
and we have a much better benefits package. I believe that our pay is better here in my neck of the woods. Not to mention that we don't have
to fight with insurance companies over coverage.
hospital positions are available but as NPs not as nps doing rn work.
come up north.
This may seem like a silly question, but can American NPs just apply for and move to Canada for jobs? Is there any regulations, visas, education blocks to this?
I hear ya'. Many of the Canadian RN's in our ICU who went on to pursue NP training have returned to Canada to work as NP's and are actually getting compensated better than most NP's in the US.
Kind of funny reading this... There are three nurses I have worked with from Canada they left due to the socialized medicine and often bring their family over for medical care..
I am not trying to open up a political discussion only know what they told me....
Funny, just after I read a thread here predicting that one day NP's will have to be going back to the bedside because of the surplus of them, I went over to browse new job openings at some of the hospitals around here. A major hospital in Nashville is advertising for neuro ICU nurses and specifies they would rather have APN's.
As far as I know this means Advanced Practice Nurse.
Nurse Practitioner.
For a bedside position.
Is this a new trend? Or, am I imagining things? Maybe I don't understand.
I know NP's in the Nashville area who are working in "RN" positions, simply because they can't find a job as an APN. Obviously, the word has gotten out and now the hospitals are going to "prefer" Advanced Practice Nurses to function as "bedside" RN's. Why wouldn't they? They can pay an extra 50 cents per hour (or not) and get a Master's prepared nurse. This isn't just concerning for APN's, it should really worry RN's with a BSN or less.
What's even more worrisome is that those APN's won't be able to recertify without proof that they've practiced in their specialty - 1,000 hours in 5 year period for ANCC NP's. I think the requirements are the same for AANP NP's. So, basically all that time and money will be completely wasted. It will get worse with all those "online" programs with minimum entry requirements.
Oh yeah, PA's should be concerned too. Why would a doctor pay a PA a fair salary, when he can hire a NP for far less?
I believe the online programs have done the greatest disservice to the NP community. Online isn't the cure-all to peoples' obstacles. It can have its place, but I think it has gone too far.
I know NP's in the Nashville area who are working in "RN" positions, simply because they can't find a job as an APN. Obviously, the word has gotten out and now the hospitals are going to "prefer" Advanced Practice Nurses to function as "bedside" RN's. Why wouldn't they? They can pay an extra 50 cents per hour (or not) and get a Master's prepared nurse. This isn't just concerning for APN's, it should really worry RN's with a BSN or less.
What's even more worrisome is that those APN's won't be able to recertify without proof that they've practiced in their specialty - 1,000 hours in 5 year period for ANCC NP's. I think the requirements are the same for AANP NP's. So, basically all that time and money will be completely wasted. It will get worse with all those "online" programs with minimum entry requirements.
Oh yeah, PA's should be concerned too. Why would a doctor pay a PA a fair salary, when he can hire a NP for far less?
PAs don't have to be concerned. The bottom of the NP wage is the RN wage in the area. However the PA wage is based on what it takes to attract a PA for that position. If the wage is too low then PAs go elsewhere. Pretty simple. There are still more PA jobs nationwide than there are PAs. There are local areas of over supply (PA and NY spring to mind) but there are still lots of jobs out there. If anything you will see a greater number of PAs going into surgical jobs in areas that you describe.
The NP can recertify if they don't practice, they just have to take the test again. The issue I would have is that the knowledge base is perisheable. Most medical boards require additional assessment or training for physicians (and PAs) that have been out of medicine for a certain period of time (usually 2-4 years). If an NP doesn't get an NP position in the first 1-2 years its going to be pretty hard to ever get a position (in my opinion).
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
In PA, I'm seeing NPs beginning to be utilized as unit based hospitalist in some community and teaching hospitals due to drought of internal medicine/family MD's --- less PCP's have admitting privileges in my health system each year.
PAs don't have to be concerned. The bottom of the NP wage is the RN wage in the area. However the PA wage is based on what it takes to attract a PA for that position. If the wage is too low then PAs go elsewhere. Pretty simple. There are still more PA jobs nationwide than there are PAs. There are local areas of over supply (PA and NY spring to mind) but there are still lots of jobs out there. If anything you will see a greater number of PAs going into surgical jobs in areas that you describe.
The NP can recertify if they don't practice, they just have to take the test again. The issue I would have is that the knowledge base is perisheable. Most medical boards require additional assessment or training for physicians (and PAs) that have been out of medicine for a certain period of time (usually 2-4 years). If an NP doesn't get an NP position in the first 1-2 years its going to be pretty hard to ever get a position (in my opinion).
David Carpenter, PA-C
Wages: From the get-go there was about a $30,000 spread in the difference some of the NPs were making from my class. Demand is just part of the puzzle, negotiating skills can also be a factor. A doctors office is a business he/she will pay you as little as you will take.
I have kept my name on more than a few email list. I get a couple hundred notices a week.A few are within an hour of where a live (middle of nowhere). My big factor would be packing up and moving for a job something I just have not gotten the urge to do... 20+ years in one place is hard to leave.
Actually my first job came a little over two years after my degree. Rough weekend in the old hospital and one of the doctors I knew was making rounds... well I just asked and 3 weeks later I was a functioning NP.
Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP
8 Articles; 4,476 Posts
I hear ya'. Many of the Canadian RN's in our ICU who went on to pursue NP training have returned to Canada to work as NP's and are actually getting compensated better than most NP's in the US.