I will be graduating with my BSN in about a year, and have been considering going back to school after that to become a NP. I'm new here, so I apologize in advance if some threads have already addressed my questions!
First, I've been hearing that NP jobs are becoming fairly hard to find. Has this been true or false in any of your experiences? The NP school I am looking at offers a FNP track that I'd like to take, so I know that will make me more marketable, but still, I'd hate to go through all that work and not be able to find a job. I have quite a few family members and friends who are CRNA's and at least in my area, the job market for them is very good.
Second, my dream NP job would be to work in the ED. I'd love to work with level 1 or 2 trauma cases, and not just the fast track. I realize that to do this I will most likely need at least a post-masters in acute care. Is this type of job realistic? Do you all see many NP's working in this sort of atmosphere, or are they mostly in ED fast tracks?
I work in Michigan and there are plenty of NP jobs in all specialties.
I am an ER nurse, getting my FNP. So far, local hospitals are still hiring FNP's for ER if they have at least a master's degree. No need for a specialty cert. This may change at a national level, but I am not aware of this.
Something to be aware of. As for job market saturation, it happens with ALL jobs, not just NP's. If you become a traveling nurse, good luck getting a job on Maui. It is simple economics.
Mid levels were designed to pick up the slack in medicine. Just the way it is. That means many of the jobs are in under-served/slightly undesirable areas. I live an rural Michigan, and there are at least 20 current openings for NP's in a 100 mile radius of where I live. My advice is to get a job in any area you can, gain experience, then you will be able to move into your dream job.
It is my goal to work in the ER as an NP in the future. Even with all my years of experience as an ER nurse, I would never dream of going straight to the ER upon graduation from FNP school. Not unless I was working directly with a physician to gain experience for at least a year.
The PA classes were easy for me being that my school had both programs.
I wasn't working full time, Work was always last on my list. it was only for a little extra $$. I don't think i could have done it all if I worked full time.
My Residency was the perfect storm. I was the first so there were no rules no schedule and no plan. the group I worked for is trying to bring the MLPs up to a higher level of care, and this is one of the plans. needless to say we still don't have a plan for the future. I am now full time and we have a new PA joining our group next month, so we'll see how it goes.
I didn't want to do an ACNP for two reasons, first I didn't want to pay someone, I would rather get paid (just a little) to learn more. Also, the ACNP will no longer be a valid cert come 2014. people will be "grandfathered" in, however i'm sure they will work something out.
@skibumNP: How did you apply for your residency? How did you find out about it? How did you get lucky finding a new grad RN job in the ER? Do you have prior EMT or paramedic experience that helped? To do fast track in the ED, what is the job market like? What do you normally see there?
I learned of the residency through my program director, I contacted the group who was developing it and hounded them until i got an interview. Once I got the offer to join, it was just a matter of time with hospital licensing (just about 3 months.
I did have some EMT work prior to my RN, however - I worked for a staffing co. I did have a three month "capstone" for my RN in a trauma center. but that was all the prep I had for working. I didn't do any "new grad program" I was tossed into the fire and had to manage.
I work 1/3 fast track and 2/3s core. I see all PTs, most of the code 3s that come in the DRs see, but I have picked up some of those too. So I see every one from a URI to a Respitory distress that needs intubation.
I work with a great crew that had been by my side as I mature as a ED provider.
TraceyMarino
69 Posts
I work in Michigan and there are plenty of NP jobs in all specialties.
I am an ER nurse, getting my FNP. So far, local hospitals are still hiring FNP's for ER if they have at least a master's degree. No need for a specialty cert. This may change at a national level, but I am not aware of this.
Something to be aware of. As for job market saturation, it happens with ALL jobs, not just NP's. If you become a traveling nurse, good luck getting a job on Maui. It is simple economics.
Mid levels were designed to pick up the slack in medicine. Just the way it is. That means many of the jobs are in under-served/slightly undesirable areas. I live an rural Michigan, and there are at least 20 current openings for NP's in a 100 mile radius of where I live. My advice is to get a job in any area you can, gain experience, then you will be able to move into your dream job.
It is my goal to work in the ER as an NP in the future. Even with all my years of experience as an ER nurse, I would never dream of going straight to the ER upon graduation from FNP school. Not unless I was working directly with a physician to gain experience for at least a year.
Take care, Tracey