Is Becoming A NP Worth It?

Do I or don't I go for a Nurse Practioner degree? My thought process may help make you in your nursing journey. Specialties NP Nursing Q/A

My reasons why I question going for a Nurse Practitioner license.

  1. Working with some seasoned nurses in the ER over the last couple of years, they make more than starting NP's do.
  2. Two doctors and a nurse who did recruit and hiring for a couple of years all stated that it was not worth it.
  3. 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?

Do you enjoy your setting?

I am a late bloomer. I went back to school when I was 40, getting a BSN in 2013. I have always wanted to be an NP, but thought I would be too old to go back plus don't want the debt. It keeps coming back around. I finally decided I think I will go for it. I am 46 years old, will probably be 50 or so by the time I finish, but hope it's worth it.

I guess I want to know, do you think it will be worth it? I know I can do it, but just need to be prepared for the work.

Also, how hard is NP program compared to Nursing School? Is the old saying "three hours of outside time for each credit" accurate?

Thanks!

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
kota110 said:
how hard is NP program compared to Nursing School? !

For a quality program, considerably harder, expect to put in double to three times the effort you did in nursing school.

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I'm thinking about pursuing an NP education. Right now, I'm working on RN to BSN. What is the best way to NP? I've worked as a floor nurse for a few months. Can someone give me some advice?

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Cindycin37 said:
I'm thinking about pursuing an NP education. Right now, I'm working on RN to BSN. What is the best way to NP? I've worked as a floor nurse for a few months. Can someone give me some advice?

Not quite sure what you mean about "best way to NP"? There is only one way: matriculation at a graduate school in an accredited NP program in the speciality of your choosing.

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juan de la cruz said:
That is a legitimate reason. A few of my ICU NP colleagues suffer from back pain and have spent a lot of time and money on Physical Therapy, acupuncture, etc. from working as an ICU nurse prior to becoming an NP...and these are young individuals (ages are between early 30's to early 40's). Many of them are thankful that we don't have to do bedside care of patients in our role as NP's.

I was at a conference and there was a speaker that is a nurse. He was supporting getting lifts on every bed because a nurse lifts about 1,000LBS in one shift!!!!!!!!!!! (I can see with moving beds, transferring patients, turning patients). He hurt his back on the job and now is unable to practice bedside nursing so he went back to business school and works in the medical equipment business.... (great speaker!!! Eye opening)

I have not seen any salaries that high. I finally broke 110,000 after many long years of hard work.

Hm but negotiating is hard isn't it? I would have to basically push Doctor a little bit and if some new grad gets an interview and just says "yes" to everything and accepts 80k (which I am assuming most of them would) this would diminish my earning potentials and being hired. Do NPs do this? Or they start at 80-90k then realize they are making the practice a good amount of money with no complaints, then negotiate?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Shawn4455 said:
Hm but negotiating is hard isn't it? I would have to basically push Doctor a little bit and if some new grad gets an interview and just says "yes" to everything and accepts 80k (which I am assuming most of them would) this would diminish my earning potentials and being hired. Do NPs do this? Or they start at 80-90k then realize they are making the practice a good amount of money with no complaints, then negotiate?

Good points. In my experience attempting to get a sizable increase after you have agreed to a rate is difficult even for a valued employee.

I don't negotiate on salary. In all cases I have been asked what my salary requirement is and I tell them. If they attempt to counter I respectfully decline and in most cases they will match my rate. If they want supporting documents I provide them with copies of my contracts or pay stubs. I have shared my pay rate information with other NPs I know who are attempting to justify the current going rate which is rather high in this area. I figure if they want me this is what it will cost them and I have had no shortage of jobs or offers.

Haha I see, well, as a first "job" NP do you think its a good idea just to accept what comes up until more experience rolls in? or shoot high? haha, I work in a retirement community in Florida I believe this biggest and most popular one in Florida so there is tons of jobs relating to healthcare, I just want to be prepared because I am planning on continuing school as soon as I get my RN and ill be working will getting my BSN as I am working and so on, so I want to be prepared... do you think actually talking to a Doctor/practice owner about it would provide more information? Working with the Doctor I have been open to much more personal relationships with Doctors due to dinners together etc.

Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Negotiating is only hard if you don't educate yourself beforehand. That's why I take a big interest in reimbursement. When I was a hospital RN, I was absolutely oblivious to what things cost, and how much insurance would reimburse. When I was an NP student I would find the office/account manager in each place I did clinicals and familiarize myself with the reimbursement data for basic visits, procedures like suturing, etc.

If you're in a market where just getting your foot in the door for your first job as an NP is important, I don't blame anyone for accepting a lower offer. I personally am in a market with a lot of demand and turned down several offers before I found the right one, and was able to because I knew what I would be bringing to the table.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Shawn4455 said:
Hm but negotiating is hard isn't it? I would have to basically push Doctor a little bit and if some new grad gets an interview and just says "yes" to everything and accepts 80k (which I am assuming most of them would) this would diminish my earning potentials and being hired. Do NPs do this? Or they start at 80-90k then realize they are making the practice a good amount of money with no complaints, then negotiate?

You absolutely should negotiate. Don't worry about missing a job because you negotiated up front, it rarely happens, and when it does it is likely not a place where you want to work. They are investing in you. If they are looking for the cheapest candidate, is that really the environment you want to work in?

NPs generate considerable revenue for their practices. Be aware what you can/will generate prior to negotiating.

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What do you think about the dnp?

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