Members are discussing negotiating salaries as new Nurse Practitioners, the importance of building relationships with physicians, the value of sharing salary information for negotiation, the impact of pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree on earning potential, and the reputation of certain online schools for nurse practitioner programs. Additionally, members are seeking advice on transitioning to a career as an NP, the differences between working in a community clinic versus a hospital, and the potential for career advancement in the field.
My reasons why I question going for a Nurse Practitioner license.
Working with some seasoned nurses in the ER over the last couple of years, they make more than starting NP's do.
Two doctors and a nurse who did recruit and hiring for a couple of years all stated that it was not worth it.
If I don't jump on the bandwagon right away...the rumors of the dreaded 2015 DNP may come true
The Drawbacks:
Increased liability without enough pay
Overworked and underpaid for their work. In our ER, the PA's do most of the work while the physicians kick back
PA's are preferred in hospital settings (which is my major interest...though I'm sure an office setting will be great later in life)
Again...financial. They did not agree that 2.5 years of schooling was worth a mediocre increase in salary (even long term). They collectively felt that working a 4th 12hr shift each week was better than spending another 2.5 years an lots of money for an NP degree.
The Positives:
Increased autonomy
I can do a full time NP program and still work
There are 2 great NP programs near me (TWU and UTA)
I believe I can get in without to much hassle
In state tuition is affordable
Self satisfaction
I understand that financial compensation is not all there is to a job though it is a necessity. Increased autonomy is very important to me and the main reason I would like an advanced practice degree. Med school would be great, but being hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and taking 4 years off is not appealing to me.
So to the current NP's...
Would you NOT get your degree if you had to do it again?
Was it worth it more than just personal satisfaction?
$125 an hour for a contract Psych NP here in New England.
I will be an NP someday, as long as I have a steady nursing job to plan $ wise. I think nursing wages will go down slowly for the average floor nurse. We won't notice the pay cuts because they will come in the form of no raises and heavier workloads.
Also I am tired of people confusing me the LPN as a NP, just like people think that because I am male I must be the doctor.
$125 an hour for a contract NP here in New England.
It's probably just the word-of-mouth or heresay. That's not the norm at all esp. the contract agency will take some percentage from your paycheck. Please do not mislead people to get into NP financially ... that's 99.9999 percentile. If that's real, it may not be there by the time you graduated ?
Around here students in their last semester are being actively recruited for NP jobs. I had my job offer months before I graduated. The market is actually easier for NPs than RNs.
I would not expect to make $125/hr as a new grad. In our area here, new grads are in the 80-100k/year range. Some specialities at union hospitals might top that, but I have never heard of a new grad making 125/hr.
I am currently finishing my BSN at Missouri State University and plan to continue on to the DNP program. It is good to hear that it is well worth it. Any of you out there doing the DNP currently? I would love to hear your opinions.....
Not worth it financially in the Boston when you have a very high cost of living. I heard RN can make that much there
Salary comparison for new grad RN to new grad NP at our big union hospital is between $10-15/ hr, with NPs making the higher amount. If you are a union per diem RN with 15 years experience who goes back to school you would likely take a pay cut.
That means very little to me in my NP job being "worthwhile". They are very different jobs with a different workflow. I am very satisfied with my job, more than as an RN. That's just me.
We don't have any PAs here to speak of, all NPs, in hospital and out-pt, primary care and specialty settings. No they aren't making mad bank, lol. NP pay here is about $30 an hour to start. RN pay is about $18-19, to start. After 20 years in Critical Care, I topped out the pay scale at $27 and change.
Wow what state do you work in??? In NJ/PA that average RNs start at $25/hr. which seemed low to me at first because that average RN in CA starts at $40-45/hr and thats in Northern CA that has about the same cost of living as South NJ. Makes me really scared to live in some states as a nurse. Lol
Sorry to say, but not true. The average starting salary in NJ is around 30/hr and NY is a little higher. Also, not true. South Jersey is generally cheaper than North Jersey. I can attest to this because I reside in North Jersey and have family and friends who lives in South Jersey.
I'm applying to NP schools this year. Is it worth it? For me it is. I have always been dissatisfied as a RN. I don't know. Feels like something was always missing. Feels like I'm running around like chicken with my head cut off. I'm not even 30 yet and would NEVER want to spend the next few years of my career working that hard. Yes, it is true. There are some nurses who can make the same amount of money that a NP makes, but I've always asked myself, "What will I have to do to make that money?" The quality of my life matters to me. Not just how much I am going to make. I want to use my brain more instead of running around all the time. I feel that I carry so much responsibility and have to work my tail off all the time. At one point I wanted to be a MD, but I actually want to be a NP. I really love the idea of seeing a patient's condition as something to figure out. It's like putting the pieces of a puzzle together to figure out what's wrong. It's going to be challenging, but I enjoy that way more than being a floor nurse. I rarely feel like I have the time to think.
Salary comparison for new grad RN to new grad NP at our big union hospital is between $10-15/ hr, with NPs making the higher amount.
To be fair, I would compare experienced RN with new grad NP. NP degree builds on experience as RN.
Many nurses who went to NP schools are experienced RN who worked in the field at least a few years, who may have taken pay cut or minimal increase in pay for the advanced degree.
To be fair, I would compare experienced RN with new grad NP. NP degree builds on experience as RN.
Many nurses who went to NP schools are experienced RN who worked in the field at least a few years, who may have taken pay cut or minimal increase in pay for the advanced degree.
If money is all that matters, not future employment or scope of practice: at our hospital a new entry NP is the same hourly wage as an RN in for eight years, give or take depending on differentials. RNs max out at $63/hr while NPs max at $110, so the ceiling is higher.
zenman
1 Article; 2,806 Posts
Are you sure? That's pretty up there.