FNP job search gone bad

Specialties NP

Published

Hello,

I have been an FNP a year in May, an RN for 6. I took a travel assignment in Texas in hopes of finding a permanent position here. But its been a year and I can't seem to find a job anywhere. I had 1 close friend in FNP school with me who already has job and they have no openings where she works. I've applied to places that people don't want to work and they still won't throw me a bone. I have 2 APRN licenses (Texas and Florida) to broaden my chances. I've gone on 5 interviews of the 100+ jobs I've applied to and they all want someone with experience. I guess there are people who were born as FNPs, I'm just not one of them. Anyone have any tips or anything? At this point I'm willing to go to Timbuktu for some experience. I feel so frustrated with this and every month that goes on doesn't help.

Whats the average timeframe for landing an FNP job?

Where else can I get a license that would hire me?

Are recruiters helpful? Does anyone know any good ones?

Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

Have you applied to rural Texas? Or just the cities.

Specializes in Dialysis.

Here are 2 things to think about:

CV-19 has stopped/slowed down hiring in many places, as the energies of HR are devoted to other things, and many persons in HR working from home

The NP field has become saturated in many locations, leaving few jobs, and driving salaries down

Hang in there, you'll find something. In the meanwhile, cast that net wider

1 Votes
2 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Here are 2 things to think about:

CV-19 has stopped/slowed down hiring in many places, as the energies of HR are devoted to other things, and many persons in HR working from home

The NP field has become saturated in many locations, leaving few jobs, and driving salaries down

Hang in there, you'll find something. In the meanwhile, cast that net wider

Thank you, still thinking of the next state I should infiltrate with my resume LOL.

3 hours ago, Tegridy said:

Have you applied to rural Texas? Or just the cities.

I've applied to both but surprisingly only the big cities call me never the rural.

1 Votes
Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

It’s a tough time right now as said above. I doubt anyone is hiring in most areas. Even some docs have been layed off for contractual salaries cut due to no volume. I’d just hang tight, get everything hot and ready and keep applying but not expect many bites until all this over. Take the time off to enjoy life

1 Votes

1) Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on healthcare companies/hospitals therefore hiring right now is tough.

2) Locum tenens can be a good way in as to a bridge from a temp job to a permanent position. Any locum staffing company can help (just read the description of the job).

3) Get away from cities that have lots of colleges with FNP programs. These places are more competitive. Smaller cities are good.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

I suggest getting licensed in the Western states like California, Oregon, WA, AZ, NV, NM, etc. These states have acute shortages of providers not just in rural areas, also in many larger cities and towns.

I suggest you use the HRSA HPSA scores to find areas with shortages. The higher the HPSA score, the worse the shortage.

https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find

FQHCs and Native American Health Centers are more open to new grads

Sign up for the HRSA Virtual Job Fairs. You will get a list of every participating employer. You don't have to sit in their session to apply - apply to all that are looking for NPs.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/job-search-provider-recruitment

Hiring is very slow now due to COVID.

Good luck

2 Votes
On 4/25/2020 at 11:27 AM, Tegridy said:

It’s a tough time right now as said above. I doubt anyone is hiring in most areas. Even some docs have been layed off for contractual salaries cut due to no volume. I’d just hang tight, get everything hot and ready and keep applying but not expect many bites until all this over. Take the time off to enjoy life

Thank you, time off does sound nice ?

18 hours ago, Maxx H said:

1) Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on healthcare companies/hospitals therefore hiring right now is tough.

2) Locum tenens can be a good way in as to a bridge from a temp job to a permanent position. Any locum staffing company can help (just read the description of the job).

3) Get away from cities that have lots of colleges with FNP programs. These places are more competitive. Smaller cities are good.

Thank you for the suggestion, its worth a try. If only I can get an agency that will hire a new grad- that's the hardest part everywhere. .

14 minutes ago, FullGlass said:

I suggest getting licensed in the Western states like California, Oregon, WA, AZ, NV, NM, etc. These states have acute shortages of providers not just in rural areas, also in many larger cities and towns.

I suggest you use the HRSA HPSA scores to find areas with shortages. The higher the HPSA score, the worse the shortage.

https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find

FQHCs and Native American Health Centers are more open to new grads

Sign up for the HRSA Virtual Job Fairs. You will get a list of every participating employer. You don't have to sit in their session to apply - apply to all that are looking for NPs.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/job-search-provider-recruitment

Hiring is very slow now due to COVID.

Good luck

Thank you so much. I've never heard of HRSA but will definitely sign up! Soon I'll be licensed everywhere in the USA ?

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
3 hours ago, TravelNurseFNP said:

Thank you so much. I've never heard of HRSA but will definitely sign up! Soon I'll be licensed everywhere in the USA ?

I'm in California and had no trouble getting a job as a new grad NP (but that was before COVID). Basically, anywhere that is not on the coast has a shortage of providers, so there will be more opportunities for new grads. The advantage of that is they will actually pay more than cities like L.A. or San Diego, and the cost of living is quite reasonable.

Look in these areas:

Bakersfield

Palmdale/Lancaster

Fresno

Modesto

Merced

Tracy

Stockton

Lodi

Sacramento

Chico

Redding

Eureka

There are also many small rural towns within 20 to 50 miles of these larger cities above that desperately need providers. And don't listen to people who say these places suck. Plenty of people love living in these places. Worst case, get at least 1 year of experience and then you can move to a more "desireable" area. My rural experience was a real asset in looking for a 2nd job, as I got great experience doing a bit of everything - had to, since we were in a remote location.

There are also FQHCs in the above areas that offer NP residencies.

2 Votes

Maybe this article in Medical Economics will give you some inspiration for other states to look at. If the state is short of PCPs, it might be a good place to look for a job as an FNP.

https://www.medicaleconomics.com/news/20-states-most-desperate-primary-care-physicians

I do agree with others that COVID-19 has ramped-down hiring. I am a PMHNP and normally Indeed emails 16-20 new job listings in my area every day. It has been 1-2 job listings per day for weeks and weeks. Every place is just sitting tight until things get "more normal". Try to hang in there!

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