Long time experience RN w/new NP license ready for NP role-enough financial benefit

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I know many nurses who has been an RN for a long time (10-20yrs) who finished NP program and tried to get a job as an NP but pay wise is not much to what they are already making! Does anyone had this problem. If they were to take their new role and go else where than they lose their benefits such as pension, etc. Many that I know who can venture out is the younger NP who is "nothing to lose." Another question I have is what is the average number of patients do you see to be productive and bringing money to the practice.

Any comments would help:p

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I faced this same situation when I graduated in 2006: I was an experienced (12 years) RN and 2 yrs LPN) and yes, I was offered less than I was making as a staff RN. However, I continued to look and found something that was $10k over what I was making with a much better benefit package. However, I had already decided that I couldn't and wouldn't take a pay cut, so I held out and kept working as a staff nurse.

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I know many nurses who has been an RN for a long time (10-20yrs) who finished NP program and tried to get a job as an NP but pay wise is not much to what they are already making! Does anyone had this problem. If they were to take their new role and go else where than they lose their benefits such as pension, etc. Many that I know who can venture out is the younger NP who is "nothing to lose." Another question I have is what is the average number of patients do you see to be productive and bringing money to the practice.

Any comments would help:p

In primary care I average 25-30 pts in an 8 hour day. In urgent care I average around 50 - 60 pts in a 12 hr day.

I'm making $50/hr in primary care and I just got a raise to $60/hr in urgent care. However, I'm not getting any benefits, since I'm a contract employee.

The local ER is paying $65/hr and you are only required to work 9 ten hour shifts per month to qualify for full benefits, including malpractice coverage and 401K. RN's aren't making anywhere near that where I live. Your friends need to keep looking around. The last thing they need to do is get a job as a NP making the same or less than they do as a RN! That makes it bad for ALL of us!

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Thanks for the input! I think about if I don't make more money and have higher liability and lose benefit..it's not worth the change...just got to keep on looking if that is what I really want to do. I still love staff nursing but the lifting patients are killing my back (I swear I use erogonomics-body mechanics). :clown:

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i am having the same issue right now and money is tight! i can make the bills well w/ my RN salary but have the option to always pick up overtime where as w/ a NP i dont have that option. i grad in may and am still looking for a job that is "worthy". someone said to me once "dont sell yourself cheap or else they will think you are cheap labor".

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Surgical, Radiology.

I know it is difficult to see the difference in pay, I just keep telling myself that the money I was making as an RN, I was almost at the top of the pay scale. (16 years experience). Now starting a new job, I am at the new NP sacle which is a lot less than my salary as anurse. I will have productivity though, a whole new world! I am nervous.

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I know it is difficult to see the difference in pay, I just keep telling myself that the money I was making as an RN, I was almost at the top of the pay scale. (16 years experience). Now starting a new job, I am at the new NP sacle which is a lot less than my salary as anurse. I will have productivity though, a whole new world! I am nervous.

Under no circumstances should a NP make less than a RN...NONE!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It does happen in some of the tigher markets....where I live the area is flooded with several different APN schools so if you are an experienced RN it is conceivable you might take an initial pay cut and indeed earn less than you were making as an RN.

I totally agree though that it is not right!

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i know what you mean, i have considered working a travel RN job where you can make $4000-5000/month if you pay your own housing. Or one lady i know makes $4000/mo. + housing subsidy. you work 3-12hr shifts. Then i could work part time as a NP so i don't lose my skills....

i just want to pay off my nursing loans, then i won't care so much how much i earn!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Same here. New NPs (especially those with no or very little RN experience) will make less than RNs in practice.

Depends on the area of the country and type of facility.

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i dunno, i only had 3 yrs RN experience and for Colorado i felt i was making pretty good money. But there are basically no NP jobs in Colorado, esp. not for new grads.

I was making 30-35$/hr with night, eve, weekend differentials..

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It does happen in some of the tigher markets....where I live the area is flooded with several different APN schools so if you are an experienced RN it is conceivable you might take an initial pay cut and indeed earn less than you were making as an RN.

I totally agree though that it is not right!

These online NP programs are going to be the death of our profession. They are admitting anyone and even worse, they are admitting anyone who isn't even a RN (or an experienced RN). To think that a RN could possibly make more than a NP is just flat out wrong. We have SO much more responsibility/liability, it doesn't even began to compare.

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