New grad NP employment search

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  1. I found an NP job as a new grad NP within a year after graduation.

    • 53
      yes
    • 20
      no

21 members have participated

How is the current employment search of new grad Family Nurse practitioners? is it easy to find jobs at this time? Which state are you located? What kind of setting are you hired at? Are there NPs out there who has no luck of finding a job as an NP and still working as an RN? Thanks.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Transplant.

I found a job about 6 months post graduation. I'm in an urban area in the south with many MSN programs in my particular city-the market was probably more saturated than I tought. It is worth mentioning that I'm an Adult-Geriatric Primary Care NP and not FNP. I saw a few more openings for FNPs on sites like Indeed, Monster, etc but only a few more as compared with AGPCNP-suitable jobs. I think the real kicker that I've observed throughout my searches is that many, many jobs-I had started expanding my search almost nationally-seem to prefer or require NP experience. Even those rural jobs-I guess because you're the only one there!

i think the thing that has ultimately saved me was honing in on jobs that strongly tied in with my RN experience. I'm fortunate enough to be not only able to relocate but also to have transplant experience. Not to be Debbie Downer but without strong and related RN experience I feel that it is tough in many locales as an inexperienced NP.

But I don't think that at all dooms you to waiting years for an NP job. Definitely network as hard as you can (even by communicating with professors if your school finds clinical sites) while in school to find clinical sites that hire students. Start looking early at job ads in your area...or your preferred area...just to get a feel for the market. If you have an area (especially a more rare/specialized one) that you may want to practice in, trying to get even a short clinical rotation in could give you a skill set that will stand out in interviews. Don't let the mediocre interview throw you...and don't count your chickens before they're hatched...because with some diligent work and planning you will eventually land a job :-)

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Thread moved to Nurse Practitioners (NP) forum for more response.

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I got a job offer from my last semester clinical site an Urgent Care clinic. I know of some of my classmates that are having trouble but we just graduated in December. If you network while in school, and during clinical, this helps and you never know when a good job situation may come up.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I got a job offer from my last semester clinical site an Urgent Care clinic. I know of some of my classmates that are having trouble but we just graduated in December. If you network while in school, and during clinical, this helps and you never know when a good job situation may come up.

Absolutely agree. If you chose and navigate your clinical sites as a prolonged job interview and make the important contacts then there likely won't even be a need to job hunt after graduation because you will have an offer already lined up. That is how I worked my undergraduate experiences also.

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I applied for three positions and was offered all three positions months before I graduated. I too am Adult-Gero and while I did notice a lot more FNP positions available I think there are also a whole lot more FNPs out there competing for those positions. Since accepting my pick of jobs, I have been offered multiple other positions and opportunities.

It seems to me, at least where I am, Gero certification is particularly in demand at this time. Of course, the job market shifts and changes so frequently, what is true today may change tomorrow but I do feel like I was in the right place, with the right qualifications, at the right time.

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Specializes in family practice.

I got job offers from all my clinical sites before graduation or even applying. Both Primary care and Urgent Care. I chose a different site because it was closer to work. I graduated in July. Started work in oct. I started late because I wanted time off to spend with my baby.

I live in a rural area though, i dont know how I might have fared in the city.

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Specializes in Family Practice.

I don't know of anyone in my class that was offered a job by their final practicum placement site. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that the process is far too long and cumbersome to get a license. Wait to take the exam, wait for the final result, wait for the state to process the paperwork. All of this takes 3 months, it's ridiculous. I found a job about one month after I had my license. I interviewed for at least 7 or 8 positions. Most of the interviews were exasperating. Many of the interviewers were completely unprofessional. Some wanted to pay me less than my RN wage ($60,000 a year). Some wanted to pay a decent salary but work you 80 hours a week. It's hard because you have no leverage as a new grad NP. I guess the goal is to find the most decent job that you can live with for a year until you get some experience and are more marketable. That's what I told myself, anyway.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I don't know of anyone in my class that was offered a job by their final practicum placement site. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that the process is far too long and cumbersome to get a license. Wait to take the exam, wait for the final result, wait for the state to process the paperwork. All of this takes 3 months, it's ridiculous. I found a job about one month after I had my license. I interviewed for at least 7 or 8 positions. Most of the interviews were exasperating. Many of the interviewers were completely unprofessional. Some wanted to pay me less than my RN wage ($60,000 a year). Some wanted to pay a decent salary but work you 80 hours a week. It's hard because you have no leverage as a new grad NP. I guess the goal is to find the most decent job that you can live with for a year until you get some experience and are more marketable. That's what I told myself, anyway.

Maybe it is the market in your area? Or also that NPs are largely women and imo tend to be less likely to approach our profession as a business. Just guessing.

While I had one place that was clueless as to what I should be making but it was honest and I in fact was able to provide data and they made me an appropriate offer. I only had 1 person attempt to play the "new grad card" with me and I promptly asked if they planned on billing less for me because I was a new grad. Kind of sassy, I know, but the medical director wanted me so I pushed it a bit...and was offered the job at the wages I required. :)

The best advice I can offer any NP is to run your business like a MD. If they wouldn't ask the doc to do it, don't ask me.

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I just passed my certification a little over 1 month ago and have had 4+ job offers that I'm currently considering with the lowest offer at $90,000 , benefits $5000 CE credit, but right now I need flexibility for my daughter.... Sigh decisions decisions. So for now I agreed to independently contract with the VA And some group homes.

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I've been practicing over 3 years now. Graduated in August, passed ANP exam in September, started work in October. I'm in North Carolina. My job offer was a surprise and was entirely thanks to contacts I made during my clinicals.

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I too, am NC and for area ANP/FNP's, I believe that there are many opportunities.

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