Do most NPs start working after licensure?

celclt · Aug 22, 2009

Sheri-what area are you in? I agree, without local connections it can be difficult if you are not willing to relocate. The FNP students I know have jobs waiting with units or practices they worked with as RNs and had MDs that were encouraging to come back as FNPs.

heavnsangel79 · Aug 29, 2009

Where are you located? It would be interested in finding out where those who have jobs prior to graduation/certification are located.

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · Aug 29, 2009

Hey cel, your right, ratted me out of wearing black & gold/VA underwear...

The VA doesn't care what RN job your in (ER-love it). I'm working w/the RN recruiter now and the HR department are starting to feel sorry for me. I finally got an interview, (b/c of working in the MICU/resume) for a part-time Pulmonary NP slot. I hope to hear from them next week. The trick is how to "make up" the other hours, as the VA contract requires 40hrs/week. I hope the VA doesn't muck this up (getting chosen, only to have Admin decide otherwise, sorry!).

I did get a walk-in clinic job in a fairly good-sized town near me. LOVE it, even though I cannot see the kids. We have other FNPs and PAs who see them. Busy little place, I'm fitting in fine, and I wish I could work there more. My VA contract is up in 16 months. We'll see...

I'm more hopeful now. My resume is getting fatter and the interview are starting to come in...even from the VA. I see light, I see light!!!

celclt · Aug 29, 2009

that's great! and only 16 more mos!

Darling927 · Sep 5, 2009

I graduated in May. I had a total of 4 job offers, 2 came before graduation and 2 immediately after. I got the AANP authorization to test at the end of June and took the exam early in July. I got my official certificate last week. I got licensed mid July (my state does not require certification for licensure). I then had to apply for an NPI number and DEA number. NPI was issued the same day, DEA took about 3 weeks. Once that was all in place, along with NP malpractice ins., the practice needed to work on getting me credentialed with insurance companies and the hospitals I will be rounding at. So far I am credentialed with less than 1/2 of the ins. companies and only 1 of the 2 hospitals I need privileges at.
I started working around 8/1 only part-time as an orientee. The doctor working with me comes in after I see the patient, does a quick exam, and signs the scripts. I think this is necessary or they couldn't bill under their name.
I will officially start in September seeing 20 patients a day. I am a bit nervous...20 seems like a lot to start, but we will see how it goes.
It is so much more of a process than I ever imagined. Had I known, I don't know if I would have started looking for a job so early. However, I am lucky to have worked in hospital management so I had a lot of connections in the community. Otherwise, I am quite sure I would not have had such good luck finding a job. Also, I am lucky that the practice was willing to wait for me to finally be able to work.
All I can say is hang in there! Something will come along.

Thanks for the encouragement, Sheri; I was wondering if you could help me with my situation:

Graduated from ANP program 8/14/09, and have sent in my ANCC application. Applied to an ideal small private practice job on a whim, and I hgot the job! Though I am not yet credentialed/licensed as an NP, and have warned the MD that I won't be fully certified/licensed til Novemberish, the MD has privileges at a hospital and wants me to start rounding with him.

*The hospital wants me to register with them as a "RN Physician Extender" and requires malpractice insurance coverage. Should I be covered by malpractice insurance as an RN or as a Student NP (but I've graduated) or as an NP (but I'm not credentialed yet!). What was your title at the hospital before you were a licensed NP, and under what type of insurance were you covered?

This is all very overwhelming and confusing for me, and my MD boss seems to not know the procedures either (I'm their first NP). Please give me some advice. Thanks!~

ANPFNPGNP · Sep 6, 2009

Hi all,
I just graduated from an ANP progrom 3 weeks ago and had a question for all you practiting NPs. Were you hired before passing your test and gaining licensure or after gaining licensure? Also, how long was it before you were able to take the ANCC test after you had graduated? I am discovering that finding a job has been rather challenging since I haven't even taken my test and I don't have my license yet. Is it just me or does this process take forever?
Between the horrible job market right now, no employers showing any interest at all and waiting to take this test, things can be kind of discouraging.

I graduated from school almost 5 years ago and I took the ANCC ANP exam within ONE MONTH of graduation. When I went back and took the FNP through the AANP a few years later, it took almost FOUR MONTHS for me to get to take the exam. It was all because the AANP agency was ridiculously slow - I still don't know why it took so long. I've heard all kinds of horror stories about the AANP, so it wasn't just me.

As far as having a job, I was already working b/c Texas will let you do that as a graduate NP (you just can't get a DEA license) - I was hired at the clinic where I had precepted last.

ANPFNPGNP · Sep 6, 2009

Thanks for the encouragement, Sheri; I was wondering if you could help me with my situation:
Graduated from ANP program 8/14/09, and have sent in my ANCC application. Applied to an ideal small private practice job on a whim, and I hgot the job! Though I am not yet credentialed/licensed as an NP, and have warned the MD that I won't be fully certified/licensed til Novemberish, the MD has privileges at a hospital and wants me to start rounding with him.
*The hospital wants me to register with them as a "RN Physician Extender" and requires malpractice insurance coverage. Should I be covered by malpractice insurance as an RN or as a Student NP (but I've graduated) or as an NP (but I'm not credentialed yet!). What was your title at the hospital before you were a licensed NP, and under what type of insurance were you covered?
This is all very overwhelming and confusing for me, and my MD boss seems to not know the procedures either (I'm their first NP). Please give me some advice. Thanks!~

You won't be able to get malpractice coverage until you are board certified as a NP. I would be amazed if you were able to get credentialed as a physician extender (that would be a PA or NP) until you are board certified. Usually, hospitals are pretty strict about this.

Darling927 · Sep 6, 2009

Well, the hospital Medical Staffing Office has already given me an application that says "Physician Employed Extender RN Application" specifically so that I can start my orientation with my MD boss doing rounds before I get certified.

They require med malpractice insurance, and my question is whether I should get RN or NP Student or NP insurance. I am thinking RN? since I'm not either one of the other two.

ANPFNPGNP · Sep 6, 2009

Well, the hospital Medical Staffing Office has already given me an application that says "Physician Employed Extender RN Application" specifically so that I can start my orientation with my MD boss doing rounds before I get certified.
They require med malpractice insurance, and my question is whether I should get RN or NP Student or NP insurance. I am thinking RN? since I'm not either one of the other two.

I don't understand how you can get NP malpractice insurance without being licensed as a NP. Is there NP student insurance available? I've never heard of that. I thought there was either RN or NP insurance.

allnurses Guide · Sep 6, 2009

I had student NP insurance while I did my clinicals, but I'm not sure if it's available to graduates pre-licensure. I went through NSO to get it.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 6, 2009

Here are questions as they relate to insurance for NPs via NSO:

https://www.nso.com/quick-quote/page1.jsf

Sheri FNP-C · Sep 6, 2009

Sorry for the delay in replying. I haven't had time to check in very often lately :cry:

In my situation the insurance carrier I used, Marsh, allowed me to get NP insurance as long as I had met the requirements for state licensure and expected my license within a month. Otherwise they suggested I get RN malpractice insurance for the time being and would upgrade my policy to an NP policy when I was actually an NP.

Long before I was officially an NP I also started the credentialing process at the hospitals in my area. Since the reference checks can take 6 weeks or longer, they were more than willing to begin the process. I was not able to actually be credentialed until I had my license, NPI, insurance, etc. Actually, I am still waiting to get credentialed at one hospital though everything has been in for months now.

Keep us posted!