FNP- seeking thoughts/advice

[Cindy-20]

I've been working in Quality Management for the past 3 1/2 years. Prior to that, I was a Labor and Delivery RN for 5 yrs.

I've always loved school and have been contemplating going back. I miss the patient interaction that I no longer have working in Quality and feel as though going the FNP route would suit me best.

I know salary isn't everything, but it's definitely part of it. Currently, I make $45/hr and work 32 hrs. I was wondering what the pay scale is for FNPs and also if there is flexibility in our work schedule.

Any thoughts? Advice?

Thanks

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Depends completely on where you work. Generally, you can find M-F, 9-5 type jobs if you work for a medical office, with weekends and holidays off. If you want a little more variation, you can work in an urgent care type clinic, where you'd likely work more weekends and holidays, but your schedule would vary more instead of a strict 9-5 (since most urgent cares are open 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week). For the most variability in schedule, you could work in a hospital and have scheduling similar to an RN, including the ability to do 3, 12 hour shifts per week. To do this, however, with the consensus model looming (which requires NPs in hospital positions to be Acute Care NPs) you would need to go for an Acute Care NP program instead of FNP.

Salary wise, it seems you'd likely stay about where you are, perhaps even go down a bit. Most NPs make around 85K-90K per year working full time, which equates to right about 45-50$ per hour.

[carachel2]

Depends on your area of the country. Texas, for FNPs seems to average 45-55 an hour depending on size of practice ,etc. Flexibility - all depends on the site. I work part-time and have some flexibility but still expected to be here 8:30 - 5 on the days I work. I would venture to say that unless you go acute care you aren't going to be making a whole lot more $$.

[Cindy-20]

I am in Massachusetts.

I'm just looking to make a comparable salary, but looking for fullfillment. For those of you that are FNPs, do you feel your role is rewarding to you personally?

[BostonRN13]

In MA too. Although I just finished NP school in my search it seems like the PCP offices pay the least, about what you make right now, and full-time positions are hard to come by... 20/hrs a week, really?? Hospital clinic jobs pay better to best..110-115K as do retail clinics (CVS Minute clinic) these are also posting as full-time positions but then you have to factor in off-shifts like every other weekend or a dreaded night shift. I guess in the fulfillment department, you need to decide what specialty you're drawn too. What type of patients did you like to treat during your clinical rotations?

[Cindy-20]

Thanks Thirteengirl for your feedback. Where did you go to NP school if you don't mind me asking? I've been looking at UMass Boston.

I loved working with pregnant women, but feel as though the FNP would give me a broad range and potentially I would fall into something else.