Everyone is in NP school !

Jules A, MSN · Aug 2, 2017

Its getting horrible in my area and breaks my heart. Being a NP used to be for the most part a group of excellent, motivated RNs who wanted to further their knowledge and scope. Now it seems everyone thinks they are NP material, that it is the quick route to big bucks and a cushy M-F day schedule. Schools are supporting this by having minimal if any admission requirements. The numbers are staggering, wages are dropping and the quality of many of the new grads in my opinion is not good. Seriously there are some who I wondered how they even got through the BSN program and now are attempting to diagnose and prescribe medication for children. Yikes. My guess is we continue seeing an increase in the "help I failed my boards", "why can't I find a job?" and "I'm a NP working for $85,000 a year" posts in the future.

Hangin'On,RN · Aug 3, 2017

It seems like a lot of the nurses I know have either graduated, are in, or are thinking about NP school. Apparently, it's the golden ticket!

Here's a really interesting thing that recently happened where I live: My job as a school nurse (and all my fellow school nurses in my county) through the health dept. was cut, and we are being replaced by nurse practitioners employed by a local hospital. I'm not sure they are hiring enough for each school though, and the salary seems rather low for a NP. I've never heard of anything like this before. We're all a bit baffled by it.

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 3, 2017

There are plenty of NP jobs, but not necessarily in places like Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc. New NP grads should be prepared to look for work in underserved areas like inner cities, small cities and towns, and rural areas. If there is a glut of new grad NPs, employers will look at things like the NP school and relevant work experience. The cream of the crop will get jobs and the rest will not. Interestingly, we now have a glut of lawyers. However, I think new law grads from schools like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc are not having trouble finding a good job.

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · Aug 7, 2017

Not me! I really want to be "just" an RN for the rest of my career. They can have the headache and extra paperwork.

offlabel · Aug 7, 2017

It seems like a lot of the nurses I know have either graduated, are in, or are thinking about NP school. Apparently, it's the golden ticket!
Here's a really interesting thing that recently happened where I live: My job as a school nurse (and all my fellow school nurses in my county) through the health dept. was cut, and we are being replaced by nurse practitioners employed by a local hospital. I'm not sure they are hiring enough for each school though, and the salary seems rather low for a NP. I've never heard of anything like this before. We're all a bit baffled by it.

Never thought of that consequence of making so many NP's. NP as entry level practice?

TicTok411 · Aug 7, 2017

Certain areas are saturated with NPs. Many larger cities are being more selective looking at years of NP experience and most posted jobs require 2-3 years of experience. I have also heard about s few employers who will not consider online graduates. The glut of new graduates has dropped the salaries for new hires and you hear more and more stories of poorly prepared graduates. It will get much worse I am afraid.

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 9, 2017

About half of the nurses in my Hospital are in NP school , about 75% of the RNs in the Atlanta area hospitals are in NP school. Where are the jobs to support the 17 millions new NPs in the graduation pipe line ? I have thought about NP school, I just can't see the job availability in the future. How is your neck of the woods ?

What on earth are you talking about? There are not "17 millions new NPs in the graduation pipe line."

Jules A, MSN · Aug 9, 2017

What on earth are you talking about? There are not "17 millions new NPs in the graduation pipe line."

Damn close.

"The primary care NP and PA workforces are projected to grow far more rapidly than the physician supply.

The supply of primary care NPs is projected to increase by 30 percent, from 55,400 in 2010 to 72,100 in 2020. The supply of primary care PAs is projected to increase by 58 percent, from 27,700 to 43,900 over the same period.

Assuming that NPs and PAs provide the same proportion of services in 2020 that they did in 2010, the combined demand for NPs and PAs would increase by only 17 percent. If NPs and PAs are used to provide a greater proportion of primary care services, their projected demand will be higher."

From:

Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 22 | Bureau of Health Workforce

TicTok411 · Aug 9, 2017

Damn close.
"The primary care NP and PA workforces are projected to grow far more rapidly than the physician supply.
The supply of primary care NPs is projected to increase by 30 percent, from 55,400 in 2010 to 72,100 in 2020. The supply of primary care PAs is projected to increase by 58 percent, from 27,700 to 43,900 over the same period.
Assuming that NPs and PAs provide the same proportion of services in 2020 that they did in 2010, the combined demand for NPs and PAs would increase by only 17 percent. If NPs and PAs are used to provide a greater proportion of primary care services, their projected demand will be higher."
From:
Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 22 | Bureau of Health Workforce

There are gonna be lots of new graduates waiting for the phone to ring. I don't think they should give up their day job.

Owlgal · Aug 9, 2017

Honestly, I was shocked at how low NP pay is now. I'm looking long-term at wanting part-time hours, and that better fits the NP role versus the management role that I'm currently in. Otherwise, I might have stuck with management. Right now I'm comfortably in the 80's and have held positions just above $100K in the past. But, you can't do part-time management. And I certainly don't want to make my career of working nights and weekends just to get shift differentials.

I live in a rural, midwest location. We haven't seen the hit to the job market yet, but I think it's coming.

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 9, 2017

NP pay is partly based on location. You did not state your location or what NP pay is in your location. In the major cities, new grad NPs make 90K to 120K, depending on the city. I am a new grad NP working in a RURAL Calif city and started at 90K with raises to 140K within 18 months, based on performance (patient load). I don't know of any new grad RNs who can expect that kind of pay. In addition, if you are an RN in management, you will likely not make as much $ as you are right now if you were a new grad NP, because the new grad NP is starting at the bottom of the NP profession.