I graduated from NP school a year ago this month, passed boards and received my license in Oct 2012. Unfortunately, I have not found a job in my new chosen profession as of yet. I have been on several interviews but, in the end the job always goes to the NP who has the experience. And the jobs that are advertised on the career sites (career builder, indeed etc...) want NP's with 1 or 2 years of experience. At first I didn't worry too much but, now I'm down right frustrated and depressed that I am still working as a RN. It seems like no one wants to invest the time and patience to hire a new grad NP these days. Any advice, or suggestions please.
Also,, did you graduate from an online only program? I have heard horror stories about people not finding jobs from those programs. Mine was fully in class at a regional university which also helped me out. There is a local online school (frontier school of nursing) who does not prepare their graduates well at all. 60% pass boards and they spend much of their time writing papers. I do not know why they let online schools such as these remain accredited. FNPs are not researchers, we are front line practitioners, and anybody who treats a program differently is completely foolish and unsafe for patients.
You're way off base and wrong about Frontier. Frontier is not a for profit school (those are the real problem).
Frontiers pass rate for boards in 2013 was 99% and it's 90% average since 2007. Don't make up statistics.
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
You're way off base and wrong about Frontier. Frontier is not a for profit school (those are the real problem). Frontiers pass rate for boards in 2013 was 99% and it's 90% average since 2007. Don't make up statistics.
Futures right. Frontier is usually cited as one if the better online programs. I've never in my 4 years on this board seen someone say that had a major issue with Frontier. It was actually my first choice school for when I apply to NP school, until they stop taking NC students. Hopefully they will get approved soon though!
They have the MSN+DNP option and the way it's set up seems to be so great to me.
Valuable information,its the way I think.Unfortunately I have not landed a job as yet,but I know its about to happen.I really just want that initial experience.
If you are a new ANP, you may have more difficulty that new FNPs. I see so many ads for FNPs and PMHNPs. All want those with experience, however. I am in the same boat as you are and am an older graduate and an ANP with no experience. I had to find my own clinical sites while in school, and due to the overpopulation of NP students in this area I went outside the general area to find sites. I did the same when looking for work. I had an interview just last week, and if he had needed someone right then, I would have had the job. No doubt. He liked my resume and is the second doc to say he was impressed. That was such an ego boost and validation that I may be an asset which to a new grad really is important. This doc had an ANP once before, and when she left, she left him with lots of patients he couldn't handle by himself. He is hesitant to add someone, but I made a good impression. He liked my resume and is willing to check to see if he could add me in. I am very hopeful about this, and they emailed today. They are working things out to see if they can safely add another NP. He prefers NPs over PAs! I made those calls myself and got two interviews from two calls. I am proactive anyway. Send thank yous as you all know to do. Another option is to do volunteer work. I met another NP recently who started that way and got experience. It helped with the hours needed to keep certification and add to her resume. I called the one she worked with, and they are willing to train me. Also just today, I joined the organization specific to the area I am most interested to be able to network with those already in my field of choice. Things seem to be going forward anyway, but we shall see where it all lands. I have to be proactive.
Hey! I tried to find a way to send you a message on here. Have you tried locum tenens? I am considering it b/c like you the area I live in is flooded and I need to find a job. I need feedback.
Very interesting thread. Chill thanks for your informative post.
When people say that their market is flooded with NPs are you referring to FNP, ACNP or both? I am in school currently and ACNP seems in demand here. It appears that there is a FNP or PA in every family practice office.
I recently spoke to a faculty member at the university here and she said that even though the consensus model clearly states that the role of FNP/ACNP are not setting specific the market clearly is defining the role that way. She said at the hospital FNPs are returning to post bacc to get their ACNP to stay in the hospital setting. I know the ER still has many FNPs though.
I hope I am making the right decision switching to ACNP. I want to work in the hospital setting.
Duke University's NP program is completely online! Is that not good enough? I loved my online program!! The point of the thread was, or so I thought, about finding that FIRST job as a new grad NP. Not getting a better one or how much salary etc etc. It is too true that employers do not want to have to train anyone, and in my area not hire a new grad. Docs get an internship. We do not.
Now, there is $300 Million available through HRSA to help community clinics expand or set up in order to serve those without access to healthcare. Those would be perfect, or so I thought. They will not even hire a new grad!! I have applied to two, both of which will require me to move, and I know that Duke University is the receiver of a lot of these funds for their management of a large group of community clinics. They also will NOT hire a new grad. That should not be allowed if they receive Fed funds! I think it should be written into the grants they get that in order to receive Federal moneys, they have to be willing to hire a new grad. If they have one, they get the funds. If not, they don't!! Anyone know who to contact. The new director Burrell would be a good place to start!
I can't even volunteer my time to get experience!! They also want experienced NPs or the docs do not want to supervise. I went to an orientation at one of these, and the doc said afterward that she wanted to take on more patients and prob couldn't be my supervising doc. There are three docs there, and all three could supervise me according to my BON. They do not have an NP and obviously do not want one either. They will not supervise me at this so called "ministry" even if I work for free. Re the post re hospital hiring, I am a Primary Care NP and not willing to be hospital staff. That is Acute Care. There is a great need to have NPs work in the units etc so the docs do not have to be bothered. I didn't go to school for that! Sorry if I sound angry, but if I could give it back, I would!
I have done LOTS that is definitely outside the box but no nibbles at all the poles I have in the water. I very basically have education that no one wants. I did it in Adult, so those with FNPs have an easier time. Anyone with ideas re getting employers to hire a new grad? No resume suggestions please. This frustration, I am restless and feel I should have spent my time in Medical School instead. I'd get more respect from employers, get that first job without difficulty, and get help if it is needed to help me grow into my new role. We have to help each other.
By the way, I talked to another NP who works in a specialty area, and she said she didn't think it was necessary to have experience before getting hired. PAs don't! Maybe we have to start in a specialty area instead of Primary Care like PAs do. I also think getting past HR in a large facility like she was in would be hard with no experience.
I am sorry you are having a hard time Barinbass. However, it is not true that Duke clinics don't hire new grads. I have two friends that just graduated from Duke a few weeks ago, both have been hired at Duke primary care clinics. Both of them are FNPs. I have another friend that started in oncology research as a new grad APN a few years ago. Someone has given you bogus information.
They hired their own grads. Seems like they might to do that. Networking is easy in that case too. I have had contact with them and also have reached out face to face with the director of the area of my interest. As of now, they do not have the funds to hire or so they said, but in that specialty, I doubt the new grad issue will be important if the funds were there. However if there are two and one has experience and the other doesn't, which do you think they old choose? As I mentioned earlier, FNPs are more in demand than ANP, and I am not looking for research at all since that is not doing ADPIE, the components of being an NP. I have done research, and they need a BSN. MSN looks nice in the results section and may lend credibility, but it isn't necessary. Research will not provide the NP experience either. No diagnosing, making the plan, providing treatment, etc etc. Thanks though. If you are familiar with Lincoln, the large group of community centers, Duke HR manages all Lincoln's HR needs. I have applied there too, but I will not hear anything. If you have other helpful suggestons that may have a positive outcome, please post. Thanks
futureeastcoastNP
533 Posts
You're way off base and wrong about Frontier. Frontier is not a for profit school (those are the real problem).
Frontiers pass rate for boards in 2013 was 99% and it's 90% average since 2007. Don't make up statistics.