New Grad Job Market PMHNP

Nursing Students NP Students

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Hello all, I am hoping to get the low down dirty truth here. I've recently found myself at a dead end in my current M.S. level career (not nursing) and need to make some decisions. I have kicking around the idea of becoming an NP. I have a friend who went to PA school and tried to talk me into that, but NP is more appealing to me for a number of reasons. I am especially drawn to PMHNP for a number of reasons, and the fact that I can do it in an AE program in only 3 years adds to the appeal. I do however have concerns about the job market for PMHNP.

I am in a financial situation with current student loans and a family to support that just will not allow me to gamble with this. I spent too many years and way too much money on my first M.S. only to find myself unable to even keep up with the interest on my student loans for over a decade. While I have always been a proponent of doing what you love, at some point I have to make a large part of my decision based on the ability to find employment and make a reasonable living for my family. My first degree was chosen by following my heart and it has been a financial disaster. I can't afford to make that mistake twice.

What does the job market look like for PMHNP? I have read some instances where PMHNP's have complained that they are unable to find jobs or MD's willing to allow them to work under them. I know that money should not be the primary reason you choose a specialty and I realize that FNP or even PNP would offer more flexibility in finding a position. However, I also realize it would take more time, which means more time until I can start earning a living, and I really do keep feeling myself pulled to PMHNP.

I also realize the AE PMHNP programs can be highly competitive and therefor it may not even end up being an option, but I don't want to count it out, if it is where I want to be, then it makes sense to just try for the AE program.

Also, it is my understanding that if you get your MSN without doing NP, then post graduate work can not be funded with student loans, if that understanding is correct then it puts me in a further predicament, once again making the PMHNP AE program seem appealing.

I would appreciate any insight into the realities of finding work as a PMHNP. Additionally, I am located in Texas and would not be able to move in the near future.

Specializes in Psych.

I am also in Texas, and I pretty much went into nursing to become a PMHNP.

Well - in truth, I planned to do FNP and be a nurse injector, but my first psych rotation in nursing school hooked me like a large mouth bass. Psych was coming home for me.

That said - I taught school several years and decided I needed to be a nurse. I did a plain old ADN program (2 years, given my prereqs were already met - $8,000 total tuition and books graduated May 2010). Then I did my BSN online through UT Arlington (1 year, another 8K) while working full time as a nurse (50k - I have kids, and I'm not into overtime) graduated August 2012. Then I went into UTA's PMHNP program, which I hope to graduate August 2015.

I have had several soft job offers pending graduation and boards.

I don't think you'd have trouble getting hired DE. I do think that my nursing experience - both in general med (chest pain, blood pressure, wounds, and family stuff) and in psych - have helped me assimilate my graduate level education and help me in daily practice in clinical.

The sum total of my PMHNP education has added up to 85k in student loans.

I wanted to ask, though - if you've got federal student loans for that MS degree and you make income based repayments for 120 consecutive months working public service... you should be eligible for forgiveness.

And when you go into nursing, the loans you have for your MS (biology) are not eligible for forgiveness or repayment under the nursing loan repayment programs.

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I am also in Texas, and I pretty much went into nursing to become a PMHNP.

Well - in truth, I planned to do FNP and be a nurse injector, but my first psych rotation in nursing school hooked me like a large mouth bass. Psych was coming home for me.

That said - I taught school several years and decided I needed to be a nurse. I did a plain old ADN program (2 years, given my prereqs were already met - $8,000 total tuition and books graduated May 2010). Then I did my BSN online through UT Arlington (1 year, another 8K) while working full time as a nurse (50k - I have kids, and I'm not into overtime) graduated August 2012. Then I went into UTA's PMHNP program, which I hope to graduate August 2015.

I have had several soft job offers pending graduation and boards.

I don't think you'd have trouble getting hired DE. I do think that my nursing experience - both in general med (chest pain, blood pressure, wounds, and family stuff) and in psych - have helped me assimilate my graduate level education and help me in daily practice in clinical.

The sum total of my PMHNP education has added up to 85k in student loans.

I wanted to ask, though - if you've got federal student loans for that MS degree and you make income based repayments for 120 consecutive months working public service... you should be eligible for forgiveness.

And when you go into nursing, the loans you have for your MS (biology) are not eligible for forgiveness or repayment under the nursing loan repayment programs.

Is the UTA PMHNP an online program ?

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Specializes in Psych.

So, here's my story.

15 years in psych/social services, some at the masters level.

15 years of horrible pay (I knew this going in but had the "I want to save the world...money be d@@ned!"

I met a couple of PMHNPs and thought it would be the perfect career for me, and I could actually make a living.

Flash forward about 8 years and I'm finally applying to PMHNP programs. I want to make it clear. I really had no interest in bedside nursing. I decided on an accelerated BSN program and thought I'd do the bedside nursing thing for a couple of years and would take advantage of a hospitals tuition reimbursement program. But then I completed a practicum in the ER and fell in love. Crazy people AND super sick people and sometimes they were the same person! It was heaven. To make a long story short, I developed many new interests from my experiences in the ED. I found l like to teach, I'm good at complex medical cases, and I've developed a level of calm that some people find unnerving.

My adventure has been meandering for sure. I have ultimately arrived back to my original plan. But those 7 years of bedside nursing are irreplaceable. They have allowed me to grow as a person and a professional. They will afford me a level of credibility in my new role that many of my inexperienced colleagues will not have.

My advice is to simply be open to the experience of bedside nursing. You may gain more than just a bigger paycheck and a way to pay for grad school. I did.

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Specializes in Psych.

No; UTA offers an online FNP program that does not seem to be well liked by many (any?) of the students in it. Their PMHNP program is hybrid; there were semesters that I went to campus one to two times a week and semesters that I went one or two times a semester.

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I see this is a slightly older thread... But to update, the job prospects are not as GREAT as salary websites show. I have been a BSN, RN for 5 years, and finished my MSN, PMHNP a three months ago. The reason many PMH programs are letting anyone in is they know that they can get applicants, but to be honest the ANCC exam is difficult (I graduated with a 4.0 from MSN and BSN) and still the exam was hard. The offers I have been getting as an experienced RN are about 20K less than what most websites suggest (not 6 digits). And I honestly think that in 2 more years it will be VERY hard to get employment as a PMHNP. I live in the midwest, just outside of a Major city and while I have had 4 job interviews, 3 job offers, but none at that 100k+ pay grade. My university graduated ~14 PMHNP MSNs and only 3 have passed the ANCC exam (that I know of) 2.5 months after graduation. I think the bubble is already burst unless you like living in a very rural setting and driving to your client's home. Good-Luck.

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Thanks for the input on your experience. Would you mind sharing more about locations where you are searching? I'm glad you found this thread and added your experience. This is important information.

I am wondering if a pmhnp would be able to get work as an RN if they were not able to find a job as a pmhnp? Obviously this would not be ideal but better than unemployment.

Maybe other recent grads will have something more to add to the conversation.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I see this is a slightly older thread... But to update, the job prospects are not as GREAT as salary websites show. I have been a BSN, RN for 5 years, and finished my MSN, PMHNP a three months ago. The reason many PMH programs are letting anyone in is they know that they can get applicants, but to be honest the ANCC exam is difficult (I graduated with a 4.0 from MSN and BSN) and still the exam was hard. The offers I have been getting as an experienced RN are about 20K less than what most websites suggest (not 6 digits). And I honestly think that in 2 more years it will be VERY hard to get employment as a PMHNP. I live in the midwest, just outside of a Major city and while I have had 4 job interviews, 3 job offers, but none at that 100k+ pay grade. My university graduated ~14 PMHNP MSNs and only 3 have passed the ANCC exam (that I know of) 2.5 months after graduation. I think the bubble is already burst unless you like living in a very rural setting and driving to your client's home. Good-Luck.

I agree things are going to come to a screeching halt with all the new graduates these schools are cranking out however at least for a few more years PsychNPs should be making excellent money if they require it. It does vary by area and whether your board of nursing allows FNPs to practice exclusively in psych. In many cases employers need to be educated on how few of us there are at this time and pay accordingly.

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I live in Illinois. Sorry I have been busy.

To update, I'v been through three more interviews since that last post. Offers were:

O- 65K (GREAT package, 6 weeks off a year, 30 minute med reviews, 2hr evals, relaxed, outpt setting)

O- 78K (horrible package, in an upscale well to do area, some practice autotomy)

O- 107k finally that "good PMHNP" money (mediocre package 2 weeks off a year, 401k matching, health insurance, but with day and night rotations, on-call every other weekend, very limited authority over my own practice, and in a BAD neighborhood, every MD there had Owen Wilson's nose or scars on their face from assaults)...

It is crazy to think I worked as a nurse making more money with tons of job flexibility, to put myself through school to go into a specialization that is "needed" and the job market is this poor.

After catching up with my classmates, still only one other has found a "good" job as a new grad in another state with years of psych experience himself, another has a good offer at where she worked for 7 or 8 years already, and the others are thinking they have to move out of state, or haven't passed ANCC's exam yet (and probably won't). A word of warning: if you don't have a background in inpt psych nursing, or at-least a masters in psychology & and your RN before starting the PMHNP track... think long and hard about if you can doing this work or being a new grad PMHNP, MSN in debt and still working your inpt RN job. The PMHNP outlook for new grads is not all easy sunshine and happiness, and just maybe 50mg more zoloft for you or a little Wellbutrin to make sure you can handle the overtime in the same setting you work now.

Maybe I am cynical but I think all of these new students in PMHNP or FNP programs and PA's flooding the market isn't helping new grads or the population that need help. If you want to be a Psychiatric Mental Health NP make sure you know why you want to do it (it shouldn't be to help yourself psychiatrically, it shouldn't be for the money, and it shouldn't be for the amount of jobs out there). AND AGAIN: GOOD LUCK!

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Central Illinois, there are jobs but not the pay that I was hoping for... I will be making about 20k less a year as a PMHNP than as an RN with less time off.. To all those that haven't started their NP yet - Keep seniority where you work and open a small business for extra income

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Specializes in Mental Health.
I live in Illinois. Sorry I have been busy.

To update, I'v been through three more interviews since that last post. Offers were:

O- 65K (GREAT package, 6 weeks off a year, 30 minute med reviews, 2hr evals, relaxed, outpt setting)

O- 78K (horrible package, in an upscale well to do area, some practice autotomy)

O- 107k finally that "good PMHNP" money (mediocre package 2 weeks off a year, 401k matching, health insurance, but with day and night rotations, on-call every other weekend, very limited authority over my own practice, and in a BAD neighborhood, every MD there had Owen Wilson's nose or scars on their face from assaults)...

It is crazy to think I worked as a nurse making more money with tons of job flexibility, to put myself through school to go into a specialization that is "needed" and the job market is this poor.

After catching up with my classmates, still only one other has found a "good" job as a new grad in another state with years of psych experience himself, another has a good offer at where she worked for 7 or 8 years already, and the others are thinking they have to move out of state, or haven't passed ANCC's exam yet (and probably won't). A word of warning: if you don't have a background in inpt psych nursing, or at-least a masters in psychology & and your RN before starting the PMHNP track... think long and hard about if you can doing this work or being a new grad PMHNP, MSN in debt and still working your inpt RN job. The PMHNP outlook for new grads is not all easy sunshine and happiness, and just maybe 50mg more zoloft for you or a little Wellbutrin to make sure you can handle the overtime in the same setting you work now.

Maybe I am cynical but I think all of these new students in PMHNP or FNP programs and PA's flooding the market isn't helping new grads or the population that need help. If you want to be a Psychiatric Mental Health NP make sure you know why you want to do it (it shouldn't be to help yourself psychiatrically, it shouldn't be for the money, and it shouldn't be for the amount of jobs out there). AND AGAIN: GOOD LUCK!

lol this is far from accurate. Just because you're having a rough time finding a job in Illinois doesn't mean that's the case everywhere. I go to a well known university and am graduating this summer.. I've already received job offers that are 100k+. From last year's cohort everyone got a job before graduating and is making over 100k, some with loan repayment. One person is making close to 200k in the Pacific Northwest. It depends on where you are looking, I guess. If you're willing to move, you can easily find a job and make good money as long as you negotiate. Just sounds like your particular area is saturated or the environment is not good for NPs. Have you tried negotiating those offers? Illinois is not an independent practice state. Typically states that are independent practice have higher salaries because employers know that you can go off on your own and make good money. Unfortunately you are just limited by your geographical situation.

I would not accept anything below 100k as a new grad, even if there is loan repayment. But I'm willing to move which makes the difference. I'm looking at the PNW which has great practice environment and lots of demand. Starting salaries up there range from 100-130k. I heard Arizona, Texas, and Maryland pay well also.

Not everyone is able to move of course. Even if you are stuck, I would not accept anything below 90k. Negotiate! Also join the PMHNP facebook group and ask for advice there. There are thousands of members so maybe someone in your area can help or has advice about an opening.

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To middleagegal

I am currently beginning my course for PMHNP. I have been an RN for 20 years and I went into nursing SPECIFICALLY to be a psych nurse. I have seen nurses from other fields come into psych nursing because they thought it was an easy way to be a nurse without the lifting. Then when they start they become disillusioned because it was a lot more than they thought. It takes a special frame if mind to do this kind of work. You have to have highly precise assessment skills as some of the meds we use are as deadly, if not more so than 'medical' medications. I not only have to know how these medications work but how do they effect those so called medical medications. I have a keen sense of observation all because of the line of work I do. I also have a sharp memory because I cannot carry a chart and take care of my patients to write everything that is said and done. So imo yes it is important to check out psych nursing before you sink money into the education. You could be like so many nurses that I have seen come and go just because they didn't know what they were getting into. Me, I wouldn't do anything else. The reason why I am doing PMHNP? Because so many doctors and people who are higher up than me tell me my skill set has surpassed being an RN. Good luck!

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My take on psych NP vs psych RN. Currently at my job once I top out at the payscale + holiday pay and some overtime I would make just about the same thing as the psych NPs that work here make. The difference is the work schedule and quality of life. They have weekends off, never work a holiday, no on call (we have residents). Also they aren't on the floor most of the time, so chances of getting assaulted are greatly diminished. And to be honest from what I can see, the psychiatrists and NPs here don't exactly have grueling work days, they spend a few hours a day in treatment team, a couple hours doing paper work/chart work, go to meetings and most of the time they are working from their office.

Plus job security, can open a practice, can practice as and NP, can practice as an RN if needed. With an MSN you can teach, or get an education certificate and be a professor, precept clinical. Tons of options.

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