IS ILLINOIS REALLY THAT BAD FOR NPs????

TMnurse · Mar 6, 2005

Hey,

I work in Illinois... I have heard the same thing--and from the same person I always hear "and the american medical association is downtown and they don't want NP to have jobs...". Bottomline: the major hospitals in the area NORTHWESTERN-RUSH-UIC-Univ of Chicago--ADVOCATE all have NPs working there and are looking to hire. Univ of chicago went from a handful of NPs 3-4 years ago to now close to 200 in the system. All the other hosptials either themselves have APN programs in their own nursing program OR will pay 100% for you to go on an become an NP. I guess if you talk to some nurse in suburban area where there might already be too many docs to go around... sure there might not be a lot of NP jobs. However, I am enrolled in a NP program at a school in chicago. The univeristy i go to is constantly posting NP jobs either in the city or around the country. Also, the NP in Illinois can: get a medicare/caid bill code--do have perscriptive power--could (and some have) open up an independent practice--. Sure, there seem to be other states that have a little better/liberal practice (California/Penn) but I think Illinois is not that bad of a place to be an NP. I work with several--they have a nice practice and all highly recommend pursuing the advance training if that was my interest.. it was..hence..I am plugging away. Best of luck. PS one thing I have learned quickly about advanced nursing training in any regard (CNS-CRNA-NP-MW-MSN-PHD) you need to actively seek out persons using that respective credential and "pick their brain" about the career path and future. Hear say is a very just that.. hear say.

crazylilkelly · Mar 6, 2005

Hey,
I work in Illinois... I have heard the same thing--and from the same person I always hear "and the american medical association is downtown and they don't want NP to have jobs...". Bottomline: the major hospitals in the area NORTHWESTERN-RUSH-UIC-Univ of Chicago--ADVOCATE all have NPs working there and are looking to hire. Univ of chicago went from a handful of NPs 3-4 years ago to now close to 200 in the system. All the other hosptials either themselves have APN programs in their own nursing program OR will pay 100% for you to go on an become an NP. I guess if you talk to some nurse in suburban area where there might already be too many docs to go around... sure there might not be a lot of NP jobs. However, I am enrolled in a NP program at a school in chicago. The univeristy i go to is constantly posting NP jobs either in the city or around the country. Also, the NP in Illinois can: get a medicare/caid bill code--do have perscriptive power--could (and some have) open up an independent practice--. Sure, there seem to be other states that have a little better/liberal practice (California/Penn) but I think Illinois is not that bad of a place to be an NP. I work with several--they have a nice practice and all highly recommend pursuing the advance training if that was my interest.. it was..hence..I am plugging away. Best of luck. PS one thing I have learned quickly about advanced nursing training in any regard (CNS-CRNA-NP-MW-MSN-PHD) you need to actively seek out persons using that respective credential and "pick their brain" about the career path and future. Hear say is a very just that.. hear say.

Thank you so very much with that info. It makes me feel better. Take care, CLK

cjmmsn98, MSN, RN · Mar 17, 2005

Seems like more suburban and rural areas are finally getting more NPs on board, in addition to the city hospitals in CHgo. All depends on the setting and the docs. I seem to encounter 2 kinds of docs- those who will only work with PAs- so forget about trying to work with them, and those that will only work with NPs. Look for those who want to work with APNs, and join the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nursing (isapn.org)- student rate is quite reasonable, and they can tune you in to what is happening in Illinois.

Docs are leaving the state d/t their malpractice rates, so it's gonna be interesting here in the next few years. Could open up more APN opprotunities. If you want to be an NP, then do it. "If you build it, they will come...."

Take care-

Catherine

Hi,
I read some earlier postings saying that IL really isn't a good state for NPs to be working. How true is this? Is it the pay or employment opportunities?? I'm going to school here for my BSN right now & plan on eventually becoming an NP. I would like to remain in the state so I can be near my family. Thanks!