compensation for new grad emergency medicine fellowship

DanC · Apr 6, 2011

I think you and only you can answer the is it enough question. You know what you need to live on. Also how long is the fellowship and can you expect to get a jump and much higher wage either there or elsewhere after you are done.

SkiBumNP · Apr 6, 2011

I do think that IF we as Nurse Practitioners accept a lower wage, it does reflect negatively on the overall pay scale of all NPs

mike109810 · Apr 7, 2011

Just FYI, even medical fellows (MD's and DO's) make a very low salary during fellowship (under 60,000 a year), and they are working much more than the normal 40 hours a week, so their hourly rate probably comes below yours.

If you are interested in become an ER nurse practitioner, then it is definitely going to be time spent investing in your future, rather than simply a job. I think it may be a good opportunity if you were interested in emergency nurse practitioning in the long run. Moreover, you said you would be one of the first students in this emergency nurse practitioner fellowship, so it is definitely going to be a novel idea.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 7, 2011

I agree w/ Mike. It is typical for fellows to be very low paid. The prestige is supposed to make up for it. And in my neck of the words, starting pay for NPs is about $27-29/h without any accompanying prestige.

physio · Apr 7, 2011

thats $65k a year assuming even only 40hrs/wk. Thats a very high salary for an NP fellow FYI. Most fellowships pay ~40-45k for 40-60hrs/wk. If I was you, I'd take that 65k and be very happy.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 7, 2011

As a fellow you are still a student so think what you need to survive and go from there. Will there ea big jump in salary when you get done?

core0 · Apr 7, 2011

Hello AllNurses,
I am a new grad NP, and I am about to start a (and be the first) emergency medicine fellowship.
I just received my contract and I i got to the last page and saw what they want to pay me.
needless to say I was surprised.
During the interview I had spoken briefly about compensation, and I knew that
I would get paid less that starting wage for NPs as I would be a fellow and not be fully
autonomous on the floor. But i didn't know how low they were thinking of going.
So i am wondering
1. what were others getting paid for their first NP job.
2. do you think 31.50/h is an OK amount of money.
thanks
SKiBumNP

Thats in the ballpark for PA post grad programs. Most pay between $40k and $60k per year.

danceluver · Apr 7, 2011

This is something I would be interested in in my future as an NP---where is this fellowship located, how do I apply for it? Is RN experience required in EM or critical care?

SkiBumNP · Apr 7, 2011

I can see by the overwhelming response that i am probably being petty and a wee bit greedy. many of my new grad colleagues are getting more, but none of them quite have the training opportunity I have. without a doubt this fellowship will make me a better emergency provider than if i just jumped in and started working.

It is just hard that working as an ED RN for a staffing company that take a ton out of my pay already, i will be taking a 25% pay cut. However, with this new gig, i need to included all the extras on top of the hourly wage.

DancingNurse: Once i sign and start I can tell you more about this program, I can say that my history of working in emergency medicine as an RN and my three month rotation as a NP student helped me get this. However, I feel strongly that there is such a difference between working with patients as a RN than as a NP, that as I develop this program I will push for prior ED RN experience need not be a requirement.

PNP4KIDZ, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2011

As a Midwest PNP who works in the ER/Urgent Care, it was amazing to me too how low pay is for NP's in general! I believe the pay scale needs to start about where the RN/Staff Nurse ends with maybe a little overlap. For being in a critical area, our NP's get a 10% differential. But, we are not paid the extra for evening shifts. I have to say that there are many RN's making more. I just think our nursing organization should stand up and demand more for what we do. We actually generate money for the hospitals, have greater liability, and don't get hardly any breaks.

Being in the ER is amazing! The fellowship you have will pay off. I don't think you are being petty or greedy. You just want to be compensated fairly. I think it is a fair wage considering it is a fellowship, but I would expect more once you finish :) (By the way, that wage isn't far off from what the new hire NP's get even with years of RN experience). As a profession, I agree that we need to demand higher salaries for what we do and the extra education we have. Best of luck!!!

danceluver · Apr 7, 2011

Yes, please let me know when the appropriate time comes! Feel free to PM if that would work for you as well! Thanks for the information cuz its definitely something I am strongly decided on doing in a few years!

I will be going through a direct entry program, so I don't plan on spending much time as an RN (if any if I can't work through school- (for whatever that may be worth to others) i strongly feel the NP role is what I am looking for.

PS: Do you wish you had gone PA instead because of this? Just curious