How is the job market for NP's?

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I have heard that the market has become saturated with NP's and jobs were getting harder and harder to find. I had been considering going back to school for my masters but after hearing that, I am afraid I'd be throwing my money and time away. Any opinions?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Just like with the RN situation, you will find wide variances in different parts of the country and to some extent, it will be dependent on what type of NP you become.

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Specializes in PICU.

You might want to start with applying to school first to even see if you get in right away. I know the schools near me saw record numbers of applicants for the fall. I have heard of about 5 nurses at my hospital that applied and didn't get in. Another nurse on my unit was told by the school she is applying to for January admission that they took so many this fall, they may not take any new students in January. Everyone is trying to get their MSN before the 2015 recommendation of the DNP. Or at least that is the explanation the schools have been giving.

It also depends on which specialty you choose. My advisor for my program said that all of their graduates find jobs quickly and most have them lined up well before graduation. But I'm doing an ACPNP program, and there is a lot of demand for the education, but not a lot of programs around the country. Comparatively, there are lots of FNPs. Maybe someone else has some actual data on this, but I've heard FNPs make up about 60% of all NPs.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Echoing what the others have said, it depends heavily on your specialty, and geographical location. The recession has dried up some markets, but the jobs are out there, and will continue to grow as the US population ages and the primary care healthcare sector shortage continues...

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I think there probably are more FNP's simply because that degree is more flexible. If you choose something specialized, you limit your job possibilities when you live in small town USA. I always wanted to be a nurse midwife until I realized the hours they probably have to work. They pretty much have to go to work when their patients go into labor...no matter if you've worked all day or not. And doctors in my town are not fans of nurse midwives. I would be pretty much guaranteeing that I would have to relocate to find work. I would also think I'd like the neonatal NP but, again, I'd have to move to find work. FNP or the women's health NP would be about the only options that would be useful in my area if you're interesting in women's health.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I think there probably are more FNP's simply because that degree is more flexible. If you choose something specialized, you limit your job possibilities when you live in small town USA. I always wanted to be a nurse midwife until I realized the hours they probably have to work. They pretty much have to go to work when their patients go into labor...no matter if you've worked all day or not. And doctors in my town are not fans of nurse midwives. I would be pretty much guaranteeing that I would have to relocate to find work. I would also think I'd like the neonatal NP but, again, I'd have to move to find work. FNP or the women's health NP would be about the only options that would be useful in my area if you're interesting in women's health.

Are you in KY?

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Yes, Paducah.

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