new NP cant find a job

IcySageNurse · Jun 7, 2013

Find a new grad residency program for NPs. There are many of them out there, for a ton of different specialties. This will ensure you don't lose your knowledge/abilities, allow you to work as an NP and gain experience, and they usually pay fairly well (75Kish).

This is going to be an issue going forward with all new grad NPs - every school is trying to "cash in" on the NP craze and there is going to be a huge oversupply of new grads. With no formal residency program for NPs and the anemic clinical hours in a typical NP program, no one wants to take the time to train a new grad NP. I think residencies might have to become the norm (perhaps included in the DNP program).

Cherry2000 · Jun 8, 2013

My instructors have told us to send out our resumes to places we would like to work even if they do not have any openings listed. I know that for myself and at least one more student, we have been offered jobs by doing this. Are you able to relocate? Other parts of the country have significant shortages but moving can be daunting. For myself, I looked at areas outside of the location of my schoolmates. Luckily I live further out than they do.

reddgirl · Jun 8, 2013

I am in the same boat as you my friend. I have had several interviews and still a dead end road. Re-vamped my CV and called all people who I thought could pull some strings and nothing. I am currently waiting on a reply from this community health center that I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago. My lack of Spanish is also hurting my chances as well. I think it's such a shame because we can't even pay off our student loans. I am too beginning to give up and just stay as nursing faculty. I make more money teaching and with no experience, the best offer I got was $75,000. I get $80,000 teaching. I live in South Florida and relocating is not an option.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 9, 2013

Take heart -- if you're already working as an RN chances are you're making more than the starting salary for an np.

mzaur · Jun 9, 2013

Have you thought about moving? There are plenty of jobs, just might not be in your area

SoundofMusic · Jun 10, 2013

I have to agree and it's seriously disappointing after doing all this work and testing. What I'm seeing in my very large metro area is a lot of acute care positions, which are tough to take if you just finished an FNP program. There are the jobs where you need spanish (like when did this become a job "requirement"? ), and there are the jobs that want the inevitable 1-2 years experience. There are the weird jobs that you don't feel like taking because it would box you in ...and there are 100's of retail jobs advertised, but I can't seem to get ANY results from putting in applications to Minute Clinic, Target or elsewhere. It's disappointing. I do notice that the jobs that were posted 6 months ago have seen to vanish ...maybe it's cyclical? They talk about needing so many NP's with the coming healthcare changes, but tell me, how will they train all of us? I also feel residency programs are going to have to evolve ...or we will be looking at a dire shortage of experienced family practice NP's, IMO. Seems this "problem" of primary care shortage can just never be solved intelligently in this country ....

SoundofMusic · Jun 10, 2013

http://www.commhealth.org/residency/nurse-practitioner-residency/program-information/

Lol, can't believe I find this now. This is EXACTLY what I've believed NP's have needed all along. That experience we got in school? It was a lot of learning, but I still feel woefully unprepared. This is how it needs to go ....in primary care, especially. Of course, it will add costs to programs ...maybe? Unless clinics can be staffed primarily by residents and have experienced NP's overseeing....it could be done, and could be cost effective. If I found a program in my area like this, I'd be in it ...

SoundofMusic · Jun 10, 2013

Community Health Careol, can't believe I find this now. This is EXACTLY what I've believed NP's have needed all along. That experience we got in school? It was a lot of learning, but I still feel woefully unprepared. This is how it needs to go ....in primary care, especially. Of course, it will add costs to programs ...maybe? Unless clinics can be staffed primarily by residents and have experienced NP's overseeing....it could be done, and could be cost effective. If I found a program in my area like this, I'd be in it ...

BostonRN13 · Jun 11, 2013

What about a job in retail health, like a Minute Clinic? Pay seems pretty good and so are hours. I know here in MA they're hiring new grads, You'll get some great chest up experience across the age spectrum..

Its something i'd consider based on proximity to home alone..

SoundofMusic · Jun 11, 2013

I would go for a Minute Clinic job and I have applied for at least

10 positions or so in my area, but have received no calls. Neither has anyone

Else in my class despite them coming to our campus to promote

Their clinics. I really don't understand why they do this if they don't intend to hire. I am also

Uneasy about working there ... Not sure it's the best job to really learn and grow

As a new NP... I could be wrong though. At any rate, I am a graduate with a well rounded

Background and a high gpa and I have not been contacted by them.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jun 11, 2013

Take heart -- if you're already working as an RN chances are you're making more than the starting salary for an np.

What? The starting salary of an NP here is significantly more than I make as an RN. So I wouldn't take heart in that if it was me. I'm an RN with 5 years specialty is a certification...I make 24/ hr. I would not assume the RN salary is higher than the NP.