FNP job outlook

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Hello friends,

I am in the final stages of applying to MSN-FNP programs. I plan to do a classroom based program in large cities. However, recently, I have heard/seen that a lot of new grad FNPs are having a hard time finding jobs. I am hearing that, a lot of younger nurses are not staying at the bedside and are now going into FNP programs, so the field is over saturated with new, inexperienced nurse practitioners. I want to work primarily in a community clinic or some kind of public health program but all I am hearing is that new FNPs will be "stuck" doing pain management and/or "sketchy" phone a doctor clinics/retail clinics.

It makes me nervous to go to school if the job outlook is not promising. I have a few potential back up plans, one being an MPH instead to manage public health programs, or potentially down the road doing a PMHNP program instead.

background if interested: i have been an RN for 5 years with a mix of both family/OB clinic and labor and delivery.

What has any one else's experience been with finding a reasonable job as a new NP?

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I think the job outlook is fine. I think you have to consider your source when you are hearing negativity. I think in bigger 'desired' cities, there can be an issue of saturation. this can be for multiple reasons....... including it being a university town so more likely to have people encouraging each other to further their education and the bigger cities being a desirable place for Drs. creating less of a demand for nurse practitioners. My guess is that those that are struggling to find jobs don't want to move to rural areas. ....... when in reality the NP role was created to fill a need in rural communities.

I do work in a bigger city and had not issue finding a job......but I was expecting and willing to work in a smaller community.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

A lot of your job outlook will depend on how good of a program you go to (if you are in a saturated area) and how good your personal/professional network is.

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Here in California, there is a high demand for FNPs. As a new grad FNP, be open to the smaller cities and also rural areas - those are areas of very high need. Inner cities may also have a shortage of providers. For example, while there are plenty of FNP jobs in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas, there is more competition for those jobs, along with a very high cost of living. If you are willing to go inland to the San Joaquin Valley (Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Redding, etc) you will actually get paid more, the cost of living is very affordable, and you may be eligible for NHSC loan repayment programs!

Here is a tool to help you find Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA):

HPSA Find

Good luck.

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I live in the Nashville, TN area and I feel like it is saturated, but it also depends on what you are looking for as far as a job is concerned.

I graduated in Aug 17' and i just started looking for a job two weeks ago. I have had 3 job offers, but turned down 2 of them for various reason, but took one of them but it is PRN. All i can tell you is to be ready to pay for some things out of pocket when you graduate. dea - 750, malpractice anywhere between 1450-2500 lump sum depending on your capacity, state license 200-300, and certification 300-400 depending on discounts etc.

Good luck.

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I live in the Nashville, TN area and I feel like it is saturated, but it also depends on what you are looking for as far as a job is concerned.

I graduated in Aug 17' and i just started looking for a job two weeks ago. I have had 3 job offers, but turned down 2 of them for various reason, but took one of them but it is PRN. All i can tell you is to be ready to pay for some things out of pocket when you graduate. dea - 750, malpractice anywhere between 1450-2500 lump sum depending on your capacity, state license 200-300, and certification 300-400 depending on discounts etc.

Good luck.

All of those costs are paid for by my organization. One of the perks of working for an organization.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
All of those costs are paid for by my organization. One of the perks of working for an organization.

Yes but these are usually secured prior to getting a job so money out of pocket.

OP I believe in popular areas the opportunities are still available, although not as plentiful, but the wages are stagnating and even lowering in some instances.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Yes but these are usually secured prior to getting a job so money out of pocket.

OP I believe in popular areas the opportunities are still available, although not as plentiful, but the wages are stagnating and even lowering in some instances.

Overall salaries are still on the rise though, perhaps they have slowed a small amount.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I live in the Nashville, TN area and I feel like it is saturated, but it also depends on what you are looking for as far as a job is concerned.

I graduated in Aug 17' and i just started looking for a job two weeks ago. I have had 3 job offers, but turned down 2 of them for various reason, but took one of them but it is PRN. All i can tell you is to be ready to pay for some things out of pocket when you graduate. dea - 750, malpractice anywhere between 1450-2500 lump sum depending on your capacity, state license 200-300, and certification 300-400 depending on discounts etc.

Good luck.

Make sure you join the AANP as a student prior to graduating so you can use those discounts on your board exams.

The reimbursement for these costs can be negotiated as part of the job offer but license, certification are out of pocket expenses if you don't have a job lined up. If you are working as an RN you should change your to NP coverage as soon as you are licensed which is also a potential OOP cost. The DEA can/should wait until you are employed.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

The number of jobs and pay varies by location. NP pay has been going up in California - I've seen a considerable increase just in the past year. There are plenty of jobs out there, too, but they may not be in the "primo" locations. We have a shortage of primary care providers in this country and it is largely a distribution problem. So be willing to go where the jobs are. Good luck.

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