I don't even know where to start, to be honest. So I will just ramble (bear with me).
So I was laid off 3.5 months ago from an NP job that I enjoyed, due to budget cuts. At that time, i wasn't too devastated because I always kept my agency ICU RN gig on the side, and I have been able to resume making a good income ever since my layoff. But at this point, I am beginning to grow really annoyed at the inability to find a respectable NP job.
I live in an NP saturated city, and even as an NP with over a year of experience, I have placed over 60 applications with very little call backs. I've only been called back 3 times. One was a cardiology NP job and I was passed over due to me having an FNP (I was crushed, even though he loved my Cardiac ICU experience). The second call back I thought I had it in the bag, went though 5 positive interviews, interviewed with the CMO, and they eventually dropped off the face of the earth (after they STRONGLY encouraged me to get my DEA prior to hire.... so I basically paid over $700 to be flaked on, which is my fault at the end of the day, but still... I felt so deceived), and LASTLY there is another job that I am interviewing for that I think is a joke. They are talking about paying $60,000 a year with a FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. I honestly don't know why I am still communicating with them, but at this point, I feel like ANYONE showing interest in me at this point is something, even if the job is pathetic .
Even all the Locum Tenens places I am looking at are asking for 2 years experience, and I am still not "qualified enough" at 1 year and 3 months. I recently just purchased a home with my spouse and moving isn't an option at the moment, as I help take care of my siblings.
The job I was laid off from was a low 6 figure income, great perks, etc. and I am angry and disappointed in the lack of options that are out there now for FNPs. I'm not asking for perfection, but i'm seeing too many 6 days a week jobs for 60k-70k a year, which I find to be simply unacceptable. I feel like I fell for the "FNPs can do anything" myth. It is NOT TRUE in my neck of the woods. When looking at jobs now, all that is out there are psych and Acute Care jobs. Even pediatric clinics and OB/Gyns here only want PNPs/WHNPs. There are SO MANY FNPs graduating in my city and many more moving in. I have already put in applications for a few Post Masters AGACNP programs for Spring 2018, to open up my opportunities. I'm even tempted to consider applying for Psych NP, mainly for the $$$ and job opportunities. I'm shocked that employers are even considering asking FNPs to accept $60-80k for 50+ hour work weeks.
At this time, I am loving my Agency RN work, I always have. At least while I search, I can make my own schedule, work 4 days a week, and take trips without worrying about scheduling. But I still get this sense of 'I NEED to find an NP job soon'. But even headhunters I have contacted have nothing to offer because of the saturation. And I don't want to just settle for ANY job (like the 5 year contract job) that I will absolutely resent.
Anyway, thanks for taking time out to read this. Is there anyone else that is regretting their FNP or hating the job market where they are and are unable to move???
Maybe I'm just impatient, or asking for alot, i don't know.
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