New Grad NP salary Texas

[AlcRoc]

Hello

Perhaps what I’m about to say is silly but I really would appreciate some feedback from nurses on this site. I am an aspiring NP and based on some things I’ve heard I am now questioning even putting the money and time into becoming an APRN. I love the idea of advancing my practice, having greater autonomy and better pay but friends who have become NPs here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area are telling me to forget it. They say they are overworked and underpaid. One person told me RNs we’re getting paid as much as NPs in her state of Hawaii! I’m 46 years old. I’ve worked in Med/Surg, OR and now doing Psych PRN. I make about 65,000.00 as a nurse with 5 years experience. Is spending another $30,000 on an NP program worth it? I didn’t get into nursing to just make $ I also love it, however I would hope being an NP would raise my salary quite a bit. Any thoughts? Please share your salary, location, specialty and years as an NP with your thoughts on this. I guess I need some hope?

[thenurseguy88]

Honestly speaking i don't understand the lack of support from seasoned nurses to newer nurses. As one person explained above, newer nurses are returning back to school a lot quicker than previous nurses did 15 years ago, because the opportunities presents itself quicker nowadays...with many BSN programs having a direct entry into the DNP/NP following BSN graduation and most people like myself would prefer to get their education done and over with, so you don't lose momentum for studying, clinicals, papers etc. I dont see why older nurses find this to be such a big deal. Everyone's life is different. I finished my BSN in my late 20s, but i graduated with people who were 22-24 years old, should i be upset because life afforded them the opportunity to become a nurse sooner than it did me? NO! A lot of people have their lives planned out and are very diligent at reaching milestones and goals. Seasoned nurses/NPs will argue that new grad NPs don't know what theyre doing beacuse they lack the bedside nursing exp and skills...but i've seen and heard physicians criticize the education of the NP as a whole and that includes the most seasoned nurses/NP's...so regardless of the cutthroat behavior we display against each other...remember some old school physicians will always see us as just NURSES and it doesn't matter if you're BSN, DNP, Phd ..so lets not further tare each other down with negative comments about career and education. NURSE ON PEOPLE!?

[Oldmahubbard]

The OP's question was, it is financially worthwhile to get an NP license in their part of the country? I can't answer that. For me, the degree eventually paid off, but there was quite a bit of luck and some random factors involved. I know people who have not done that well. Productivity, or lack thereof, is often involved, but how do you know your productivity level before you get some NP work experience?

In general terms, it has gotten a lot easier to get an NP license. I don't think that's a good thing for the profession.

I question the validity of a degree one does full time online, while working full time.

I have read that, while physicians typically respect the NPs they work with regularly, their respect for the profession as a whole is less enthusiastic.

To answer the OP, a big raise as an NP was never guaranteed, and it still isn't.

[direw0lf, BSN]

On 3/10/2019 at 5:40 PM, Oldmahubbard said:

I have a few thoughts. Yes there are some selective and decent NP programs from big name schools. Thank goodness. I hope they are better than the ones I am most familiar with. They actually vet their preceptors, and also provide preceptors for the student. Unfortunately, they are outliers.

The professors should be actual NPs in the speciality with recent and extensive clinical experience. Again, not sure how you are going to get someone like this for the ridiculously low salary they pay. Is this supposed to be a job only for someone in semi-retirement?

I had one or more prospective students contact me for possible clinical hours when I worked for a state forensic facility. I was interested in having students.

However, my vindictive and narcissistic supervisors would not let me have students because I was making their "psychiatrists" look bad by regularly exposing the malingering that was passing for schizophrenia.

My point, NPs in most clinical settings are not free to just have students come in. They have to get permission.

All that being said, I am happy with my career. Very happy. But it was a long and bumpy road.

Hi Oldmahhubbard,

Regarding how you said professors should be actual NPs - I read elsewhere people especially physicians saying there should be MD teaching in there, and that it would give an edge when looking for employment. I can't say who is right obviously but just you see how it's hard to make a decision or come to a conclusion with so many opinions thrown out there?

And thank you for shedding some light about shadowing and how supervisors may not allow it for NPs.

[direw0lf, BSN]

On 3/10/2019 at 5:44 PM, FullGlass said:

I think we are basically in agreement.

However, it is NOT easy to get into the best NP programs. Those programs do not accept 100% of applicants. There is competition. Perhaps you are stellar, but I did not get into every NP program I applied to. I got into Hopkins and UCLA, but not Yale.

I can't speak to the quality of every NP program, but I am very happy with my education at Hopkins. It wasn't perfect, but they did the best they could. There are ways for prospective students to find out more about programs, instead of endlessly whining on this forum.

I am not annoyed with people who ask questions, but people who are completely clueless when they are already RNs! People who apparently are incapable of googling "nurse practitioner schools in California." That reveals a level of ignorance and intellectual laziness that is astonishing. People who go all the way through nurse practitioner school and graduate, who are then astounded at what nurse practitioners actually make. (Ever heard of the internet or how about talking to your instructors and preceptors who are NPs?) Psych NPs who show up for a job interview with multiple facial piercings and facial tattoos, dressed unprofessionally, and then wonder why they didn't get the job (yes, this really happened)!

I agree there is too much negativity towards NP programs and new NP grads on this forum and have been quite outspoken about it. However, I agree there are some crappy NP programs out there and our profession should do a better job of policing themselves.

Can anyone here imagine a premed student asking "Gee, what are the good medical schools?" "Is Harvard or Johns Hopkins a good medical school?" Or saying, "I just want to go to the easiest med school possible." "No one will care what medical school I went to. I can go to Acme Med and get just as many job offers as someone who went to Hopkins." How about, "I don't want to have to read the text!" Or how about a medical student or medical doctor making comments like: "I'm going to become a Family Medicine Doctor. Can I work in the ER and do surgery?" "I want to be a Psychiatrist. Should I be a Family Medicine doctor?" "I want to be a cardiologist. Should I do an internship and residency in Family Medicine instead of cardiology?" "I want to be a doctor and make six figures, but I can only go to a med school within a 1 hour drive of my home, and I can't possibly relocate after getting my MD."

I just worked 2 12's so not gonna make the best reply but I agree we are in agreement ?

I wanted Hopkins but the price tag with it was hard to do..over 80k for DNP. That was Georgetown's tuition cost also for master's. I thought about Loans for it, as I have no undergrad loans. I wonder if Hopkins is worth it. For Duke, it's expensive too around that price for master's, but working for Duke they reimburse 95% tuition cost.

I hear you about those questions. I think we (new nurses or student nurses) can get clueless about this profession and requirements. I mean we are held by the hand and don't really know what it is to be an RN yet when we first graduate or are still in school. Even with working as a PCA and clinicals, even a nurse internship over the summer, I would say I didn't know really what it is like until I started. And so we are like babies coming out and ask questions such as the examples you wrote. Not that that makes it any less annoying. Some people mature slower in this field than others. If they still are going to ask things like "I want to make 6 figures what's the fastest, cheapest and easiest way and I don't want to drive far and I want to bring my dog to work with me" after real experience, they won't last I don't think. I think better preparation in undergrad would help. Premed or Bio majors get a lot more mentoring from advisors to prepare them for realities, IMHO. Which is why they don't come out asking silly questions as much on forums as student/new nurses.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

14 hours ago, direw0lf said:

I wanted Hopkins but the price tag with it was hard to do..over 80k for DNP. That was Georgetown's tuition cost also for master's. I thought about Loans for it, as I have no undergrad loans. I wonder if Hopkins is worth it. For Duke, it's expensive too around that price for master's, but working for Duke they reimburse 95% tuition cost.

Glad we agree! ?

As for school cost, I'm from California. Surprisingly, the cost of UCLA, a public school FOR A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT is almost the same as Hopkins! Given that housing is outrageously expensive in Los Angeles, while Baltimore housing is very affordable, and to be honest, Hopkins is more prestigious, the choice was a no-brainer for me. That's also why 50% of the Hopkins class is Californians. While a Cal State University or College would have been more affordable, I wanted to go to the best school I could. Hopkins does provide good financial aid - they have a lot of scholarships. They also have a high rate of acceptance for the Nurse Corps and HRSA scholarships - that's what saved me. I won a Nurse Corps Scholarship for 18 months of my 2-year MSN NP program. That was full ride - all tuition, along with a $1300 per month stipend for living expenses. So, for any other prospective and current NP students reading this - please apply to any and all scholarships you qualify for!!! There was also a $25K grant for NP students that was available to Hopkins NP students when I was there. Another tip: talk to all your professors and advisors about possible scholarships. Financial Aid didn't know about the $25K grant - it was administered directly by one professor and I found out about through word of mouth. And don't forget about Federal and State loan repayment programs if you are willing to work in an underserved area for awhile.

[NemoBlue]

On 3/9/2019 at 1:55 PM, Goldenfox said:

Some here lie and troll about the reality of all this (for their own purposes, I'm sure). I used to give advice to younger and newer RNs and NPs based on my own experiences over the many years that I've been doing this. I try not to do this anymore. I am tired of being attacked by know-it-alls and trolls. Some of us will have to learn the truth the hard way, the old-fashioned way.

BTW oldma, you are dead-on. I have a doctorate degree...a real one. The DNP is not a real doctorate degree. I used to be in a DNP program and dropped out because it was mostly just ridiculous nonsense regurgitated from the RN program. No need to pay a college thousands of dollars for that. They will give you a piece of paper with a title on it, but it means nothing in reality.

Do I regret being an NP? Yes and no. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. If I had to take out large amounts of student loans to do it, I wouldn't. I came into this at a time when when it was worth doing and when there were plenty of decent opportunities. Now, everybody and their mother is an NP. It is very easy to get into the NP programs and very easy to pass to pass the boards. Pay and opportunities are in decline across the board. Many lie and say that the opposite of this is true. I know NPs in my home state who consistently lie about their earnings to impress others. I would never do that. One of my big weaknesses is that I like people too much to lie to them about things that I know will hurt them later, but that is not what we are cultured to do in this world. If you decide to become an NP you will find out what is true for yourself. If you decide to become an NP, do it because you really want to become a clinician, not because you are burnt out on bedside nursing. If you do it for the latter reason you will be a disappointment to the patients who look up to you, and worst of all, to yourself. The reason I like being an NP is because I now have the opportunity to help people who really need help in ways that I never could as an RN. You don't even begin to understand the importance of this until you've worked in a state that affords full-practice autonomy. But to really take advantage of this you need to know your Sugar, Honey, Ice Tea.

If you decide to become an NP because you really want to be a clinician, do it. Don't expect that you're going to get rich or that you're going to land a great job easily. You're probably going to have to move to get a job that pays a half way decent salary. If you have to, and you can, do it. Reality is that there just aren't many good paying clinical NP jobs out there anymore because, thanks to the easy online colleges, NPs are a dime a dozen now. Still, the really good clinicians among us will stand the test of time. The patients and the supervising physicians will quickly figure this out. NO matter what, don't sell yourself short. Be a real clinician. Don't take those home health assessment jobs that are now being advertised in overabundance online.

To the OP, you're probably never going to make bank if you're in a big city where there are hundreds of other unemployed or underemployed NPs who are willing to accept a crappy job and low wages. I quit doing locums a while ago and my NP colleagues who are still doing it tell me that it is getting harder to find jobs and that the pay is trending lower. Do your research. Don't just accept the sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows BS that you hear from some.

Troll attacks incoming... 3....2....1.....

Such a bitter post. You must be a joy at work.

[hunnybaby24, BSN, APRN, NP]

On 3/9/2019 at 1:55 PM, Goldenfox said:

Some here lie and troll about the reality of all this (for their own purposes, I'm sure). I used to give advice to younger and newer RNs and NPs based on my own experiences over the many years that I've been doing this. I try not to do this anymore. I am tired of being attacked by know-it-alls and trolls. Some of us will have to learn the truth the hard way, the old-fashioned way.

BTW oldma, you are dead-on. I have a doctorate degree...a real one. The DNP is not a real doctorate degree. I used to be in a DNP program and dropped out because it was mostly just ridiculous nonsense regurgitated from the RN program. No need to pay a college thousands of dollars for that. They will give you a piece of paper with a title on it, but it means nothing in reality.

Do I regret being an NP? Yes and no. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. If I had to take out large amounts of student loans to do it, I wouldn't. I came into this at a time when when it was worth doing and when there were plenty of decent opportunities. Now, everybody and their mother is an NP. It is very easy to get into the NP programs and very easy to pass to pass the boards. Pay and opportunities are in decline across the board. Many lie and say that the opposite of this is true. I know NPs in my home state who consistently lie about their earnings to impress others. I would never do that. One of my big weaknesses is that I like people too much to lie to them about things that I know will hurt them later, but that is not what we are cultured to do in this world. If you decide to become an NP you will find out what is true for yourself. If you decide to become an NP, do it because you really want to become a clinician, not because you are burnt out on bedside nursing. If you do it for the latter reason you will be a disappointment to the patients who look up to you, and worst of all, to yourself. The reason I like being an NP is because I now have the opportunity to help people who really need help in ways that I never could as an RN. You don't even begin to understand the importance of this until you've worked in a state that affords full-practice autonomy. But to really take advantage of this you need to know your Sugar, Honey, Ice Tea.

If you decide to become an NP because you really want to be a clinician, do it. Don't expect that you're going to get rich or that you're going to land a great job easily. You're probably going to have to move to get a job that pays a half way decent salary. If you have to, and you can, do it. Reality is that there just aren't many good paying clinical NP jobs out there anymore because, thanks to the easy online colleges, NPs are a dime a dozen now. Still, the really good clinicians among us will stand the test of time. The patients and the supervising physicians will quickly figure this out. NO matter what, don't sell yourself short. Be a real clinician. Don't take those home health assessment jobs that are now being advertised in overabundance online.

To the OP, you're probably never going to make bank if you're in a big city where there are hundreds of other unemployed or underemployed NPs who are willing to accept a crappy job and low wages. I quit doing locums a while ago and my NP colleagues who are still doing it tell me that it is getting harder to find jobs and that the pay is trending lower. Do your research. Don't just accept the sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows BS that you hear from some.

Troll attacks incoming... 3....2....1.....

Everything about this is true. The more I am in this profession the more I agree with you on all your points. I’ve been in it for four years now. New NPs with no bedside experience are in for an incredibly rude awakening. And they need one because lives are a stake. And honestly my colleagues and I talk about this often, the future of this field and how uncertain it is.

[phil1968, ADN, BSN, LPN]

I just got accepted into the last MSN FNP at USM in Mississippi. I have been around the block (26 1/2 years) and I am not expecting much. There are too many FNP's....too much comptetition for jobs with a watering down of salaries. I anticipate getting a cirtificate for psych in which there is much more demand post grad. I feel like my relevant experience in many areas gives me a leg up, but I am not expecting much as an FNP till my experience base makes me competative. I wasn't really wanting to be an FNP because of the above, but I think that having an FNP base with Adult and Psych certs with put me ahead in the long run. I have NO desire for DNP.....it is a fluff degree with no real value. Until DNP is about actually making one a better provider, count me out.

[Oldmahubbard]

3 hours ago, phil1968 said:

I just got accepted into the last MSN FNP at USM in Mississippi. I have been around the block (26 1/2 years) and I am not expecting much. There are too many FNP's....too much comptetition for jobs with a watering down of salaries. I anticipate getting a cirtificate for psych in which there is much more demand post grad. I feel like my relevant experience in many areas gives me a leg up, but I am not expecting much as an FNP till my experience base makes me competative. I wasn't really wanting to be an FNP because of the above, but I think that having an FNP base with Adult and Psych certs with put me ahead in the long run. I have NO desire for DNP.....it is a fluff degree with no real value. Until DNP is about actually making one a better provider, count me out.

My advice, skip FNP, just do the psych. The FNP won't impress a soul

[Guest1089405]

On 3/13/2019 at 1:15 PM, FullGlass said:

Glad we agree! ?

As for school cost, I'm from California. Surprisingly, the cost of UCLA, a public school FOR A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT is almost the same as Hopkins! Given that housing is outrageously expensive in Los Angeles, while Baltimore housing is very affordable, and to be honest, Hopkins is more prestigious, the choice was a no-brainer for me. That's also why 50% of the Hopkins class is Californians. While a Cal State University or College would have been more affordable, I wanted to go to the best school I could. Hopkins does provide good financial aid - they have a lot of scholarships. They also have a high rate of acceptance for the Nurse Corps and HRSA scholarships - that's what saved me. I won a Nurse Corps Scholarship for 18 months of my 2-year MSN NP program. That was full ride - all tuition, along with a $1300 per month stipend for living expenses. So, for any other prospective and current NP students reading this - please apply to any and all scholarships you qualify for!!! There was also a $25K grant for NP students that was available to Hopkins NP students when I was there. Another tip: talk to all your professors and advisors about possible scholarships. Financial Aid didn't know about the $25K grant - it was administered directly by one professor and I found out about through word of mouth. And don't forget about Federal and State loan repayment programs if you are willing to work in an underserved area for awhile.

Just a tab bit off topic..but I’m actually considering applying for the nurse corps scholarship for my absn program and the deadline is in just a few days. Unfortunately, I am a bit discouraged from applying at all. I have a pretty mediocre gpa from undergrad. Do you have some idea as to how likely it is for someone to obtain these scholarships? I’ve heard it caters more towards need based students with EFC under 5000. Not too sure.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

On 5/18/2019 at 10:12 PM, SereneRN94 said:

Just a tab bit off topic..but I’m actually considering applying for the nurse corps scholarship for my absn program and the deadline is in just a few days. Unfortunately, I am a bit discouraged from applying at all. I have a pretty mediocre gpa from undergrad. Do you have some idea as to how likely it is for someone to obtain these scholarships? I’ve heard it caters more towards need based students with EFC under 5000. Not too sure.

I felt the same way. Go ahead and apply. Yes, the needs-based is an important component, but think about obstacles you have had to overcome. In addition, stating you have a commitment to working in an underserved area like the inner city or rural areas is helpful, especially if you can back that up with volunteer activities, clinical rotation choices, etc. Also, most states have similar state level scholarships, as well as some counties and cities. Good luck!

[AddictionNP, MSN, NP]

On ‎3‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 11:55 AM, Goldenfox said:

Some here lie and troll about the reality of all this (for their own purposes, I'm sure). I used to give advice to younger and newer RNs and NPs based on my own experiences over the many years that I've been doing this. I try not to do this anymore. I am tired of being attacked by know-it-alls and trolls. Some of us will have to learn the truth the hard way, the old-fashioned way.

BTW oldma, you are dead-on. I have a doctorate degree...a real one. The DNP is not a real doctorate degree. I used to be in a DNP program and dropped out because it was mostly just ridiculous nonsense regurgitated from the RN program. No need to pay a college thousands of dollars for that. They will give you a piece of paper with a title on it, but it means nothing in reality.

Do I regret being an NP? Yes and no. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. If I had to take out large amounts of student loans to do it, I wouldn't. I came into this at a time when when it was worth doing and when there were plenty of decent opportunities. Now, everybody and their mother is an NP. It is very easy to get into the NP programs and very easy to pass to pass the boards. Pay and opportunities are in decline across the board. Many lie and say that the opposite of this is true. I know NPs in my home state who consistently lie about their earnings to impress others. I would never do that. One of my big weaknesses is that I like people too much to lie to them about things that I know will hurt them later, but that is not what we are cultured to do in this world. If you decide to become an NP you will find out what is true for yourself. If you decide to become an NP, do it because you really want to become a clinician, not because you are burnt out on bedside nursing. If you do it for the latter reason you will be a disappointment to the patients who look up to you, and worst of all, to yourself. The reason I like being an NP is because I now have the opportunity to help people who really need help in ways that I never could as an RN. You don't even begin to understand the importance of this until you've worked in a state that affords full-practice autonomy. But to really take advantage of this you need to know your Sugar, Honey, Ice Tea.

If you decide to become an NP because you really want to be a clinician, do it. Don't expect that you're going to get rich or that you're going to land a great job easily. You're probably going to have to move to get a job that pays a half way decent salary. If you have to, and you can, do it. Reality is that there just aren't many good paying clinical NP jobs out there anymore because, thanks to the easy online colleges, NPs are a dime a dozen now. Still, the really good clinicians among us will stand the test of time. The patients and the supervising physicians will quickly figure this out. NO matter what, don't sell yourself short. Be a real clinician. Don't take those home health assessment jobs that are now being advertised in overabundance online.

To the OP, you're probably never going to make bank if you're in a big city where there are hundreds of other unemployed or underemployed NPs who are willing to accept a crappy job and low wages. I quit doing locums a while ago and my NP colleagues who are still doing it tell me that it is getting harder to find jobs and that the pay is trending lower. Do your research. Don't just accept the sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows BS that you hear from some.

Troll attacks incoming... 3....2....1.....

Awesome post and I cannot agree more. I was a nurse for 8 years before I became and NP and have been an NP for only 2months. But I truly agree with you when you say, do it because you want to be a clinician and not because you want to get rich.