Excellent Employment Prospects for Nurse Practitioners

[FullGlass]

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of January 18, 2018, the employment outlook for Nurse Practitioners is excellent. Expected job growth from 2016 to 2026 is 31%, much higher than average, with a projected 64,200 new job openings for this period.

The Bureau has a website with these projections nationally and also by state and area. Obviously, demand in some areas will be higher than others. Demand for new grad NPs will also vary by location and specialty.

The Bureau website also has links to other websites with additional information.

Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

STAFF NOTE: If a poster sees a violation of the terms of service, please report it.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

I'm promulgating reality. By 2024 at current rates, nurse practitioners will be oversaturated in every single state. And that's across the board and not limited to high demand metro areas. That also means unless you are currently an np or have it in the next couple years, your ability to find gainful employment will be significantly reduced. I certainly had a few offers and all but one required huge moves while the one I chose was a one hour commute. Not everyone presently has the luxury of moving and at some point even moving won't up your chances.

It is not true that all states will be saturated with NPs by 2024. There are multiple projections, and states typically do their own projections. California's state projections are that there will be an NP shortage through 2030.

[Hope2banurse1]

While pretty much everyone agrees we need to crack down on poor quality NP schools, that is a separate issue from DE programs. This is also not relevant to the discussion at hand. However, I will yet again address this issue. I'm not sure why repeating the same things over and over is helpful to this discussion, but here we go:

With regard to direct entry, every reputable NP school requires RN work experience for acute care NPs. In addition, certain NP specialties such as oncology, also require RN work experience to get hired.

For primary care, direct entry NP programs are now offered by all reputable schools such as U Penn, Yale, Hopkins, UCLA, etc. That is because the evidence indicates DE NPs perform just as well in primary care NP roles. I agree there should be more research on this topic.

You have complained about DE NPs many times, but have yet to provide a shred of evidence, other than anecdotal, to back up your complaints. In addition, it appears you work in an ICU, so I fail to see how you can evaluate NP performance in a primary care setting, whether or not the NP is DE or not. You would likely work with acute care NPs, but acute care NPs are generally required to have RN work experience. Do you have an issue with the acute care NPs you work with?

I have yet to see an NP who advertised their RN experience, or lack thereof. During my clinical rotations and on my new job, no patient has ever asked if I worked as an RN. In addition, NP experience trumps RN experience. For DE NPs with one or two years experience, their lack of RN experience is no longer relevant.

Of course, you could start a crusade against all DE programs. Why don't you write to the DONs of Yale, Hopkins, U Penn, UCLA, UCSF, Univ of Washington, Univ of Maryland, Columbia, Duke, etc., denouncing their DE programs, demanding their cessation, and share their responses with us?

As someone who applied to and is applying to MEN Nurse program, and also hold an Associates and a Bachelors degree. I did the research, I looked at the classes for both a BSN and an MSN degree, and what I saw were some of the same core classes, but at a higher level included in that were more clinical hours as well. I really feel let down by people in this profession that does not seem to be welcoming of us who are joining this profession. I hear things like, I would not let a DE nurse help me. That confuses me because, well, because, we're really in the same boat as a person just starting out, whether with an associates or a bachelors degree. So does that mean you would not allow any new nursing graduates assist? @FullGlass I love your responses.

[Jules A, MSN]

I did the research, I looked at the classes for both a BSN and an MSN degree, and what I saw were some of the same core classes, but at a higher level included in that were more clinical hours as well.

That confuses me because, well, because, we're really in the same boat as a person just starting out, whether with an associates or a bachelors degree. So does that mean you would not allow any new nursing graduates assist?.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "higher level" the courses. At my university they were exactly the same but with a higher price tag for those doing the quickie graduate program.

As often illustrated there is a lack of practical knowledge. New grad ADNs or BSNs scope is not the same as a new grad NP so to answer your question no I would also not have a new graduate ADN or BSN diagnosing and prescribing medication for myself or my family.

[Hope2banurse1]

I'm not sure what you mean by a "higher level" the courses. At my university they were exactly the same but with a higher price tag for those doing the quickie graduate program.

As often illustrated there is a lack of practical knowledge. New grad ADNs or BSNs scope is not the same as a new grad NP so to answer your question no I would also not have a new graduate ADN or BSN diagnosing and prescribing medication for myself or my family.

I mean Masters level courses, because we know that they're not the same. I did not speak on NP, as we know ADNs and BSNs do not prescribe and some NPs can't either. I guess you started out all knowing. I like how you say doing a quickie grad program, like those in the program aren't studying just as hard and sometimes harder than those in adn or bsn programs. Like they aren't doing clinicals with more hours than either an adn and bsn students. I honestly believe for a lot of the ones that have a bunch to say with DE MSNs whether reg generalist nurses or NP, it boils down to jealousy.

[guest769224]

I honestly believe for a lot of the ones that have a bunch to say with DE MSNs whether reg generalist nurses or NP, it boils down to jealousy.

Haha no, that is definitely not the case. Some of us have worked with DE NP's, and formed our opinions based off of that.

[Jules A, MSN]

I mean Masters level courses, because we know that they're not the same. .

Yes actually some of the direct entry MS classes are the same as the bachelors classes with a higher per credit price tag.

[Guest05/31/18]

Patient's are still waiting in long lines......Therefore NPs jobs will not be going away anytime soon. In addition, I'm not sure these statistics you referenced will be relevant in 2026. The health industry will change and there may be hills and valleys. But, NPs will continue to find jobs easily because they are cost-effective to their employers. Physicians in primary care will still be able to find jobs but they will be hit the hardest, not NPs. At the end of the day, healthcare is a business and money is what drives the industry. My suggestion is to learn to embrace change.