EVERYONE is going for NP these days

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I'm hearing a lot about how saturated the market for NPs is getting, and it is becoming as difficult for an NP to get a job as a new grad RN, especially without experience.

In your area is there an oversaturation of NPs?

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No over saturation in my area of Colorado. I'm just starting on my post masters certificate Family NP primarily because there is an RN saturation in the area. We have RN's coming out of school and not finding jobs after a year. The agency's can't get enought slots for their subcontractors and with the RN glut, many employeers aren't offering competitive salaries and I'm hearing more and more dissatisfaction from RN's over management issues / cutbacks and what many feel is unsafe patient/nurse ratios.

With the new requirements of needing a doctorate degree after 2015 to become an NP there will be less and less RN’s becoming NP’s especially if it means another 4 years post BSN and tons more tutition.

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Specializes in FNP.

Yes. Many unemployed RNs, LPNs and many in NP school with no hope for a position locally. I'm moving 2000 miles away for a job next fall. Let everyone else fight over the scraps, the grass is greener someplace else!

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Specializes in Psych, Chem Dependency, Occ. Health.
Yes. Many unemployed RNs, LPNs and many in NP school with no hope for a position locally. I'm moving 2000 miles away for a job next fall. Let everyone else fight over the scraps, the grass is greener someplace else!

I agree. I'm in the Chicago area and the market is completely saturated with RNs and NPs. I'm going to hedge my bets and do the post-master's DNP and add another certification as a psych NP to increase my options. As a family we have also decided that we will relocate to where I find a job(as long as it is someplace without snow or much of it!). We are originally from southern CA but the market is just as saturated out there so I doubt we will be going back. I believe the market will continue to tighten up over the next 5 years at least. You can see all the nurses in the pipeline, it is going to be tough in many areas. I feel for folks who can't pick up and chase the jobs.

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I think the problem for NPs here is that there are few physicians that want to provide oversight. There are lots of places that could benefit from having a small FNP day clinic, for example, but profitability and supervision are lacking.

I've never heard of a demand for NPs in Arkansas other than those with a psych specialization. Despite there being a lone psychiatry residency program at UAMS there seem to be few psychiatrists in Arkansas. Many mental health clinics are seeking Psych NPs for medication management. I'm contemplating going that route.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

NP's at my school are not finding jobs in my local area (southeast). I have heard that if they do it is for around 45-50k/yr. Not worth it for 90k tuition. I started this program 2 years ago so I am going to finish. However, some people have told me that if I do not find a job I will end up back in floor nursing. This does worry me as I am not getting any younger and floor nursing is killing my body.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

Another thing is when my husband was in the hospital in another state (IN) the nurse taking care of him on the floor was a NP. I did not understand why but I figured that jobs in Indiana must have been slim.

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Wow this is pretty worrisome to hear as a prospective NP student (id be applying this summer for 2012 start).

Think we can list what areas of the country are glutted and which have opportunities?

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Specializes in FNP.

We had 2 NPs working the med-surg floor at my old hospital (oh, how I love calling it that, lol)

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

It's harder to get a job for everybody, not just RN's and NP's. I am based in a hospital setting as an ACNP and many resident physicians forego looking for jobs as they approach graduation in favor of applying to fellowships instead to improve their qualifications.

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Wow, not here in Texas! All of my classmates found work within 4-6 months of graduation and I would say the average starting salary was $87-92K with probably a good number of us making the equivalent of $95K (some are working just part-time so that would be an hourly equivalent).

Sounds like it is really geographically based.

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Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

I agree. the market for NP's in texas is great. My current job is offering 10,000 sign on bonus for NP

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