Nearly impossible to find NP jobs

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Anyone else having difficulty finding a job as an NP? I thought psych wasn't oversaturated but apparently it is.

Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

Also, it usually takes a few years even with IP for insurance credentialing to get up to speed in accepting NP’s and paying them well. The physician advocacy organizations have gotten also become more effective/ smarter in that rather than outright opposing IP they instead seek to add experience requirements ( as they did with recent bills in Penn and Virginia) that effectively exclude 80 percent of NP’s from IP.

oh no. I remember in school forcing myself to not go part-time or take a break, as while the NP world and professors made it seem like NPs will be forever in demand, just did not trust it. It is insane the number of NP schools and ease now of getting into and completing programs. I felt a rush to get done and get a job asap before - oh so sorry - what I am reading here. I do understand COVID, but I think fundamentally it's quite a broader issue.

My facility use to have 15-20 NP openings listed regularly, but since COVID all has changed. We currently have one job listed and its PRN in one of the rural clinics.

Specializes in CRNA.

Yes it is hard to find a NP job as a new grad

Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

I don't believe that it is that hard if you are willing to move. I still get anywhere from 10 to 30 job "solicitations" per week in various parts of the country (from placement firms) in states where I have indicated an interest. Lately, I am getting many in Oregon, Arizona, New York State, and Maine.  Keep in mind I only graduated in Oct 2019 and am a PMHNP.  Before I obtained my current position I was prepared to move to virtually any state for a good opportunity be it Alaska, Maine, or rural Montana.  

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

It is harder to find an NP job right out of school.  COVID made it a lot harder.  However, I am seeing more and more jobs being advertised, so it looks like employment prospects for NPs are increasing.  As others have said, be flexible on location.  It is not the end of the world to have to go somewhere remote for one or two years.  When I worked in Burney CA (find that for your amusement), one of our doctors worked 4 ten hour days, and commuted every weekend back to San Francisco Bay Area.  One of our NPs did the same.

1 Votes
Specializes in Family Medicine, Medical Intensive Care.

I agree with @FullGlass that COVID-19 has made finding a position as a new grad NP even harder. There has been an uptick in job positions in my region of NorCal, especially for PMHNPs and experienced NPs in various specialities. In fact, I recently accepted a new position at a very large primary care practice in a major metropolitan area here in NorCal known to have a very competitive job market for NPs.

What kind of NP certification do you hold? How much experience do you have? @mrsannRN

1 Votes
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Are you certified in psych and do you have experience working in psych? Due to COVID there ARE fewer jobs at this time, however for those with experience, and for those open to relocation there are definitely jobs out there.   I think being a new grad would be exceptionally difficult right now - particularly if no prior psych experience as RN. 

Also what area of psych are you looking at? Private practice? Private Consortium? Community Mental Health? Corrections? Substance Use Treatment? Inpatient? Forensics? Pediatrics? Each of these have different cash streams and different needs which means some may be hiring more while other areas are hiring less. 

Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

I had no experience to speak of in dedicated psych. and than taking care of involuntary holds in the hospital as an RN for several years about six years ago and yet had many job offers as a new grad. Now with less than a years experience I get about ten "leads" encouraging me to apply every week from various parts of the country. Of course I signed up with almost every job board and probably talked to about 30 "recruiters" who were "pitching" me to various jobs (and who still call frequently). Start with Indeed, and work out from there.  If you are flexible you will find many opportunities.

Specializes in Rheumatology NP.

So, is it the overall consensus that there are "jobs" but one must be willing to move?

What happens when you can't move (spouse has a job that ties them to an area and that area happens to be saturated)?

Logically, I know what happens.  But I'm curious what you all would say to a person who is in a program now, concerned about the market, and it's not reasonable to tell them to move.

This is my issue.  I live in the southeast, in a city known to be saturated with NPs; nursing doesn't pay great either.  I cannot move.  I want to be a nurse practitioner.  Psych is not my interest.  I am perplexed on the right thing to do.

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

Start your own practice even if a non IP state. Pay a percentage to the MD and consider going “cash only” at last for awhile.

Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
On 11/13/2020 at 11:14 AM, Polly Peptide said:

So, is it the overall consensus that there are "jobs" but one must be willing to move?

What happens when you can't move (spouse has a job that ties them to an area and that area happens to be saturated)?

Logically, I know what happens.  But I'm curious what you all would say to a person who is in a program now, concerned about the market, and it's not reasonable to tell them to move.

This is my issue.  I live in the southeast, in a city known to be saturated with NPs; nursing doesn't pay great either.  I cannot move.  I want to be a nurse practitioner.  Psych is not my interest.  I am perplexed on the right thing to do.

My honest advice is reconsider your career plans.  You have to be realistic about getting a job.  Why do you want to be an NP?  It is because you are passionate about doing the work an NP does?  Or are you just looking for the next step in your career?

I don't know why it is so hard for people to be realistic in career planning.  If I wanted to be an actor or actress, but refused to move to places like NYC or LA, how good would my prospects be?

 

18 hours ago, myoglobin said:

Start your own practice even if a non IP state. Pay a percentage to the MD and consider going “cash only” at last for awhile.

Please stop advising everyone to start their own practice.  Not everyone is cut out for this - it is basically running a small business.  And there is no way that a new grad NP is safe to practice independently.

3 Votes
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