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

Published

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

Specializes in Geriatrics.
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.

It is happening to RN's out there too! I quit my most precious of jobs due to hour changes as an experienced $20/hr. staff nurse and they hire a GN to be a DON! NO experience or nothing and she ups and makes me have to resign...and I've been a nurse for 16 years...okay I'll shut up now and slink back to my corner of the ring...

Blessings, Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

I disagree with your statement about online programs. If anything, they've given more people the opportunity to gain additional education and enhance their professional careers. For me personally, there is no way that I could take 2 years off to become an NP, but through a combination of both online instruction and hands on clinicals I will be able to do this.

Our profession needs to wake up! We have a severe shortage of both nurses and primary care providers. It's time to think outside of the box and look at more non-traditional means to bringing people into this wonderful profession.

I agree with you that a RN shouldn't make more than a NP, but that is the reality in some markets that are saturated with NPs. Good paying NP jobs are out there if you're willing to relocate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I disagree with your statement about online programs. If anything, they've given more people the opportunity to gain additional education and enhance their professional careers. For me personally, there is no way that I could take 2 years off to become an NP, but through a combination of both online instruction and hands on clinicals I will be able to do this.

Our profession needs to wake up! We have a severe shortage of both nurses and primary care providers. It's time to think outside of the box and look at more non-traditional means to bringing people into this wonderful profession.

I agree with you that a RN shouldn't make more than a NP, but that is the reality in some markets that are saturated with NPs. Good paying NP jobs are out there if you're willing to relocate.

Even the University where I went some of the classes where on-line. But we may also have to see it through the eyes of the people we are serving. I know more than a few who have voiced their distaste of on-line programs.

We are competing in a market (understaffed or not)... MD's, NP's and PA's for practical aspects are competing in the healthcare market. If that market sees the online programs as the "easy way" to gain a degree there may very well be some degree of negative feedback... I believe that if any one state banned on-line programs for licensure the rest would soon follow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Even the University where I went some of the classes where on-line. But we may also have to see it through the eyes of the people we are serving. I know more than a few who have voiced their distaste of on-line programs.

We are competing in a market (understaffed or not)... MD's, NP's and PA's for practical aspects are competing in the healthcare market. If that market sees the online programs as the "easy way" to gain a degree there may very well be some degree of negative feedback... I believe that if any one state banned on-line programs for licensure the rest would soon follow.

I'm a relative newbie to the board and I see quite a few references on on all nurses about online classes being easy. Trust me there's nothing easy about online education other than the fact that you don't have to drive to and from lectures so that saves a little time and gas but I doubt that traditional classroom coursework gives extra credit for optimal commute logistics anyway. There are online courses of dubious repute but then again there are also traditional courses of dubious repute (and these preceded the internet) - and- on the other hand there is a wealth of online education available from very reputable institutions involving rigorous coursework, etc. I would expect any 21st century professional worth their salt to know the difference. Anyone who signs up for online classes thinking its an easy option won't be enrolled for long anyway so no need to worry about an influx of people with inferior credens into the market.

All in all though - good thread. NP is one of the options I'm looking at down the line and I appreciate the opportunity to see this discourse about current issues in the field.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly ETC, very interested in wounds.

What state are you in? I am working in Michigan right now and planning to move to north carolina or tennesse in a few years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This thread has been very informative and yet a bit scary for me as a potential NP in three yrs. Got into an NP program . It is a " direct entry" program which means you enter directly with a bachelors only. NoRn experience needed. I am also applying to another one like that, both starting in 2010. The thought of having a debt of 120K yes they are alll very expensive) and making less than RNs or even making less than $50an hour is frightening with all the time and money put into the program! Both schools I have talked to tell me that new NP grads are making around 100K and paint a very optimistic picture. Reading this thread has opened my eyes up to the fact that it is not true what they say AND the fact that I dont have RN experience may hurt me when I graduate. I am in my early forties and money, benefits are impt to me!THat is the reason I am leaving my current field of healthcare . I would welcome any , opinions and advise as to direct entry grads or new NP grads in general and if they feel the time and money was worth it in the end? If I have to wait for many years after I graduate to actually make good money and benefits then the investment may not be worth it. SOoo hard to decide what to do!!!!!! I can take all comments very well so do please give me your honest opinions. Until I read this thread I was under the impression that I would graduate in 2013 and have many jobs available to me and start making atleast 85K if not more! By the way I live in Mass. THanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly ETC, very interested in wounds.

I was thinking of going for my NP, but after reading this thread I realize that as the steady income of my family that I need to reconsider. I am all for more education and have been changing around several nurse's aides sch. to help them go through nursing school. But what is the motivation, besides to increase my base of knowledge, to go back to school? Not more money, or being able to take care of my family better as far as I can see.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that you are making X amount of $$ with YEARS of experience as an RN. Starting as an NP some of you are *starting out* at that amount. But the potential for $$ growth is substantially more than what you had as a staff RN, right?

I'm down here in Texas and most of my friends who graduated last year are making $85K with bonus structures in place. There aren't any RNs I know who are making that unless they are busting butt working tons of overtime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just curious...do those new NP's in Texas have prior RN experience?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics..

I've taken 3/4 of my education (so far) on campus and the rest online, and I've noticed that the grades I made in my online courses were pretty consistent with the grades I made in the classes I took on site.

I think it isn't that online programs make it easier for academically challenged people to " buy" their degrees, because I remember losing about a third of my online pharmacology class because they couldn't pass the timed calculation exam. I think that, for the most part, online programs are graduating competent people. The problem I see with this is that where many capable (even academically gifted) working people with responsibilities and obligations could never had gone to college/graduate school, with the school being made so accessible to them this has opened up the floodgates. For those old enough to remember the old days, think about how many people would have liked to go back to school if it wasn't for being saddled with so many responsibilities. Not to mention many didn't even live in an area where there were colleges to go to. This left many people out. But now that you can be a bonafide college student at a real university with the click of a mouse, here they...we come. I'm included in this aggregate. It is kind of a painful situation to be in because I understand totally how online programs can drag down the NP profession. At the same time, I can't deny that I have such a strong drive to become a NP I can't stop myself from grabbing this opportunity and hope that this online mania levels itself out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi New Texas NP here...

Here is what I was offered as a new NP this year..

$75K public health

$80K -32 hours a week primary care family/internal medicine- no training, working alone 50%

$82 acute care working independently

$85K specialty -great benes, no productivity - 1x year bonus, large practice with training

$117K -no benes, no malpractice, etc. working independently occ health, taking my own x-rays, supervising MA

I was an RN and CNA with about 1 year expereince before I went back to school for my np.

But my classmates in different geographic regions are not all so lucky. In many places there are few jobs and some of them have not had any interviews -with many years RN experience...Only 2 of them (plus me) out of ~22 have positions after graduating in August....not alot of them are looking hard core yet as our class is just taking boards, but that's what it is as far as I know right now....So if this adds to our knowledge then super!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One more quick thing about the NP salary range...

I was told that physicians report their salary range to be 10% above what it is to keep their salary range moving in the right direction- when they complete salary surveys etc. This is justified (?) by adding their benefit value, bonuses, whatever....

I do understand that you must generate income to be able to take home a part of that. I also understand that healthcare salaries are in many cases only decreasing. But this strategy makes sense to me, I wonder if it would help to distance the gap between RN and NP salaries if we as a profession followed this type of strategy?

I don't see a downside to this. Do you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion