Having major concerns going the FNP route....

JDCitizen · Jul 3, 2008

I've been going over the older posts and I am alarmed at how many times issues such as poor pay/benefits and long hours arise for many of the NPs out there.
There is no way I am spending the next 2-3 years in school to make just a little more then I do now as an experienced critical care RN, never mind the same old two weeks vacation and lousy or non-existent retirement.
Please tell me this is not the 'norm' for NPs!!! If it is then I am definitely going the CRNA route. At least they are well paid, have good benefits and fair vacation.

It's all about personal preference...

Most everything has improved since I put my hospital staff nurse days behind me; perfect no but improved.

Music in My Heart · Jul 3, 2008

I've been going over the older posts and I am alarmed at how many times issues such as poor pay/benefits and long hours arise for many of the NPs out there.
There is no way I am spending the next 2-3 years in school to make just a little more then I do now as an experienced critical care RN, never mind the same old two weeks vacation and lousy or non-existent retirement.
Please tell me this is not the 'norm' for NPs!!! If it is then I am definitely going the CRNA route. At least they are well paid, have good benefits and fair vacation.

I don't know what is the norm. I do know that we have a family friend who's an FNP. She worked with my sister in a school-based health clinic. She finally moved on and now works as an RN in the ED of one of the big HMOs. She still works as an FNP in a clinic one day per week but only because she likes it. She earns far more in her RN position and has far fewer headaches or liability.

It's only one data point and I have no clue if it's representative (though my clinical instructor says it is).

allnurses Guide · Jul 3, 2008

She earns far more in her RN position and has far fewer headaches or liability.

Just FYI, it's my understanding that she has the same liability - regardless of her position on a given day, as an NP she is held to the higher standard of practice.

Music in My Heart · Jul 3, 2008

Just FYI, it's my understanding that she has the same liability - regardless of her position on a given day, as an NP she is held to the higher standard of practice.

I don't know; I'm not a California FNP. I can only relate what she says and presume that she knows of what she speaks.

Perhaps she's referring to the potential for problems associated with making medical diagnoses and writing prescriptions as opposed to providing nursing care.

Whence next we visit I'll ask her about it.

johnson0424 · Jul 3, 2008

i really think it is what you feel you are meant to do. i knew i could not put people to sleep for a living and i needed interaction and i love to see chronic disease such as diabetes and patients to take an active role in their care and their health. I think that is so rewarding-So although i knew that a starting NP i wouldn't make that much but the Np's around my area with > 5 yrs experience are making 99-132,000 per year and i think it is all of what you expect from your employer that makes a difference.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 3, 2008

I loved being an ER RN. That said, I still get my adrenaline rush from doing pre-hospital care! lol

As an APN, I do get paid more than an RN. However, I negotiated for it. My retirement benefits are excellent - 17% of my base salary given back to me for investing into my own retirement. I also get 4 weeks paid vacation per year and 40 hours of CME +$1500/year. All of this is pretty close to the top of the ladder for my area.

As to working again in the ER as an RN, nope can't do it because of the liability. I would be held to the standard of an APN even though not employed at that level.

7starbuck7 · Jul 3, 2008

I am not a FNP (yet).

This is just my 2 cents:) I think you have to figure out what will make you happy. I am making a lot of money right now as a RN, but I am miserable. I am not doing FNP for the money that is for sure. I will probably take a cut in pay when I graduate. But I think with the options that are available to me as a FNP, I will have better quality of life. (I am sure this all depends on the job market where you live)

GL

jlcole45 · Jul 3, 2008

It's all about personal preference...
Most everything has improved since I put my hospital staff nurse days behind me; perfect no but improved.

I don't know what this means.

Do you mean personal preference to take on more responsibility for equal pay and benefits, and longer hours?

When you say most everything - what do you mean specifically?

Or rather what has not improved???

Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN · Jul 3, 2008

:yeahthat: That's generally the impression I've gotten, being an NP is less about money and more about things like satisfaction and autonomy. You might or might not make more money, the question is will you like this new role?

Obviously, as an RN you can do quite a number of different things, so perhaps the first thing you need to ask yourself is could you reach your goals by moving to another area of nursing? Or is there something inherent in the NP role that you wouldn't find anywhere else?

I've asked the "NP or not" question many times here. Most recently I've said "or not", as I'd rather do specialized rather than primary care and don't care as much about autonomy or prescriptive authority. But that may change, yet again.

jlcole45 · Jul 3, 2008

For those of you who are making equal or even less money then you were as an RN - don't you think that's a major issue????

You are held liable and function at a higher level, but yet some of you are willing to take less money??? Hello what's wrong with this picture???

The physicians must laugh their butts off at us - no wonder so many of us feel we aren't respected. We're letting them walk all over us.

Is this a gender issue? Are men better at standing up for their rights and demanding to be paid better??

I'd like to see the gender break down for each APN roles to see if their is any merit to the above statement. Anyone know where I might find this data?

Change only happens when we demand it. If we continue to make excuses and accept lousy pay for more responsibility and work....

.... well then we deserve what we get.

jlcole45 · Jul 3, 2008

:yeahthat: That's generally the impression I've gotten, being an NP is less about money and more about things like satisfaction and autonomy. You might or might not make more money, the question is will you like this new role?
Obviously, as an RN you can do quite a number of different things, so perhaps the first thing you need to ask yourself is could you reach your goals by moving to another area of nursing? Or is there something inherent in the NP role that you wouldn't find anywhere else?
I've asked the "NP or not" question many times here. Most recently I've said "or not", as I'd rather do specialized rather than primary care and don't care as much about autonomy or prescriptive authority. But that may change, yet again.

Thanks Joe.

Well I've been a nurse for a long time and so I'm once again looking for a new challenge in the nursing world. I've already explored many areas of RN work - everything from Flight nursing, to CVICU, to case management to nursing administration (yuck!).

I want a new challenge, better pay, benefits, and retirement - especially since I am now 45 yo and only have another 20 years left to work. That's why I'm looking at ANP role of some sort.

The things I do like include, patient & family contact, techy stuff (monitors, lines, tubes, etc ...), teaching, day shift, 40 hrs/wk, the occasional emergency, keeping busy -- (I worked night shift Prn in a VA Icu (which was really like a step down unit) and I was ready to shoot myself with boredom), just to name a few things.