Florida FNP

BChapp3182 · Aug 27, 2009

I am in south Florida, just got my license issued a few days ago. I am having a very difficult time finding a job. All the jobs seem to be in Miami (and you have to speak spanish) or in Northern Florida. I am in Broward County and right now there's nothing out there. Perhaps it's the summer, keeping my fingers crossed. I also have a friend who graduated a year before me who has been looking for a job for 2 months now with no good leads. They want to pay like 70k for a 7 day 10hr work week with call, some of the offers are rediculous.

NurseFL · Sep 1, 2009

did you find a job that you like? I live in broward as well and would like to do FNP ... any advice?

NurseFL · Sep 28, 2009

bchapp3182,

sorry, but i am not allowed to send pm as yet. will love to talk to you more. i live nearby. do you practice as a fnp?

thanks so much for the info!

BChapp3182 · Sep 28, 2009

I am still looking for a job. There might be like one new job come up every 3 weeks. Problem is that for the few jobs that exist out there right now, they want experience of at least 2 years or the jobs involve a specialty area like cardiac or neuro and they want experience in that. It's very difficult being a new grad. I have a friend who graduated with me who does have cardiac experience as an RN and they won't hire him, sent him a letter stating he was not qualified.

Now I have another classmate who moved to TX and she's had 2 interviews so far but nothing she wanted yet. At least she's getting interviews..

My friends that graduated and actually have jobs working as NPs are in specialty areas of hospitals where they have worked for years as an RN. Those hospitals created positions for them. So it seems that may be the route to take to ensure you have a job upon graduation.

My advice would be to move out of south FL if you are able to, I certainly would if it were not for family/spouse ties here.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2009

Watching friends struggle through this has actually changed my mind about going the ARNP route...one works 3 part time NP jobs as can't find a great full time one, 2 have been out of school over a year and still work as RNs, 1 found a full time in a specialty she loves, but hospital pays barely more for an NP than it does for an RN.

I will say, though, that the NPs who have been around for a while have some great spots and they wouldn't give them up...I think its a matter of toughing it out for a few years while you get NP experience, and then the better jobs open up to you...FL isn't a great state for NPs in general.

NurseFL · Sep 29, 2009

Would you still recommend the FNP route in south FL? I have heard bad things about the salary but do you know what it really is in this area? I am having 2nd thoughts about doing it. I work in women's health now and was hoping to specialize after FNP or just do the WHNP. I just do not know anymore...

BChapp3182 · Sep 29, 2009

Well I don't know what an exact figure of someone's salary is. I know one my friend was working at an allergy clinic for $72k plus benefits, she was not a year out of school. They were working her like 60 hr weeks for that so she ended up having to quit when they didn't want to pay her more. She's now at the minute clinic making $42/hr but could only get that job per diem, she's looking for full time work. Another friend of mine is teaching for one semester, clinicals to associate degree RN students and that is paying $43/hr no benefits or anything since it's temporary, 12 week job. One girl who graduated before me got her first job making $80k at a homeless shelter and had people following her to her car at night so quit.

I would have to guess the salary has got to be in the low $80k. My friends that are employed won't say what they are making but they have been in those positions as RNs so it's probably not much more.

If I ever get an interview I'll let you know what the offer is...

Also, by the time you get your FNP the market/economy may have changed, Osama may have implemented the free for all healthcare plan by then and that should provide more jobs (but probably even lower paying than now). So think about that. 2 years ago when I was in school new grads were getting starting salaries in the $90k range! I thought I had it made, boy how things have changed.

If you like doing the FNP then do it. I am sure I'll get a job eventually and so will you when you graduate. It may be similiar to what your getting as an RN but better quailty, like no 12hr shifts.

As for doing it in FL, I would not practice here and do not recommend it. At least unless we get more freedom like they have in other states.

Jasil · Sep 30, 2009

I wish you the best of luck. My wife is currently in school to be a FNP and who knows where she will end up once she graduates. She has 5 years Neuro-rehab experience, but now only does that ultra part time 150hr/year, her fulltime job is running a Occ. Health Clinic at a 1000 person manufacturing plant.

I'll be the first to say if her offers are 72K she won't be taking them since she make more than that now. Her hours are flexible Mon-Fri she does put in about 50hrs a week though just to stay ahead of the game. If NP's pay that low she'll be doing it just to help people more because 72K is a joke, IMO. She could go back to her old Neuro job right now Fri-Sun and make 44hr no benefits 3 12's and make more than a NP give me a break!!

Right now this is her benefit package:

3% raise per year

8% matching 401k with her 6% contribution

3 weeks vacation

90/10 Family Health Plan for under 125$ per month

Dental free, Vision free, Life ins free!

NurseFL · Sep 30, 2009

Thank you all for the great responses! Let's keep in touch. Good luck to those looking for 1st jobs ... hang in there!

Hex, LPN · Oct 6, 2009

I always knew FL was a bad state in terms of wages but didn't know it was that bad for NPs.

I'm definitely moving out of here in a hurry as soon as I get that NP degree.

morganvibes · Oct 8, 2009

Hi all,

I am a new grad FNP, just passed the AANP! Yay!

Here is my predicament if anyone can give me some help:(btw I live in the southeast now)

I have a job offer at a community health clinic in Tampa for 70k plus incentives (which kick in after a certain number of pts in the year based on 15 per day), 70k is not great but the job qualifies for HRSA 50k student loan repayment. the loan repayment is in a lump sum and tax free so that's really worth more like $70k if it was salary. I have to give a 2 year commitment to get the loan repayment which is through the Federal government, not the employer, but they have to qualify. (possible 4 10's, 4 weeks vacation, including CME, everything paid, even 2k relocation)

I love the weather and all the things to do in Tampa, but am concerned about being an NP there because I have heard from recruiters and others that it's not good and a few recruiters told me they are always getting calls from people that want to get out of FL! (doctors and NP's and PA's)

Any Florida NP's out there? I had written a few months back about this but now I have to make a decision in the next few days. It seems like a nice place, and glad to have an offer of course, but I am concerned about what I've heard, and also not having autonomy to writing prescriptions for controlled substances as well.

I have a possibility of another position in AZ which sounds great, just that it's in an area of about 100,000 people, so pretty small. It pays 90k to start, 4 days 8-5! it's a specialty clinic, (no kids, which would be nice) same vacation time and benefits, 8 k relocation (!) and 5 k sign on (2 k up front and the rest by 2 years). they will train in the specialty (which is one i am interested in) if it was in a bigger area I would not even think about it. just not sure if I should specialize right away, although, gosh 4 - 8 hour days and not having to see kids sounds awfully nice.

They dont have loan repayment now but have just been approved for it, so can get it next year. I kind of ike not being commited to the govt though too, in case i want to make a change.

any advice would be appreciated. I am happy to have choices, sorry to hear that people dont.

some of my classmates are in that same position. Being willing to move helps quite a bit as a new grad.

Thanks!