Nurse Practitioners in Memphis, TN

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Feb 13, 2020

If you're looking to be an NP and find work, be willing to relocate in order to find a good first job. Tennessee is known to be an oversaturated market, but no new-grad NP should expect to find work without relocating.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2020

8 hours ago, TheSquire said:
If you're looking to be an NP and find work, be willing to relocate in order to find a good first job. Tennessee is known to be an oversaturated market, but no new-grad NP should expect to find work without relocation.

Network intensely while you are still working as an RN, join your state NP professional organization, make every doc you meet aware of your graduation date a year or so before you finish, jump outta your pants to make their job easier, get ready to work in less desirable areas (inner city clinics, corrections, SNFs) and you will increase your chances to avoid relocation even in such known hard state for NPs as Tennessee.

TheologyNerdRN · Feb 17, 2020

Thanks for the replies. I am willing to move or commute for a job, if necessary. I hear a lot about how bad the market is around Nashville but was curious if that spilled over any into Memphis or not. I appreciate the insight.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Feb 17, 2020

You can use the internet to do research on the NP job market in your state. Besides skimming job boards, look for state-level projections of the need for MDs, NPs, primary care, etc. Most states produce reports on this. You can also determine if there is a rural health agency in your state - some states with a high need in rural areas have special organizations for this. The federal government uses HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area) criteria and has extensive online resources to check HPSA scores in every part of the US.

Basically, most smaller cities and towns, along with rural areas, have provider shortages. This includes some fairly large towns, with 100,000+ people.

I did a search on "tennessee primary care provider shortage" and came up with:

https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Health-Care/2016/03/05/Study-Tennessee-facing-large-shortage-of-primary-care-physicians

https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/rural-health/federal-shortage-areas.html

I also did a search on "tenneesee nurse practitioner shortage"

https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/blog/high-np-demand-states/

For your first NP job, be prepared to move or do a long distance commute.

Kabdel · Feb 18, 2020

I dont know my brother got his dnp and works in hospital and had no trouble finding a job in Memphis

Dougefresh · Feb 21, 2020

Overall the market is garbage in the southeastern US. Yes you can find jobs, but due to the fact of a saturated market, you will not earn what you are worth. Only way I would recommend becoming a Nurse Practitioner is if you were to do Psych. Otherwise, you are better off to work as a travel nurse. Make about the same amount of money without the liability or responsibility.

TheologyNerdRN · Feb 22, 2020

I am definitely willing to relocate if necessary. There are definitely needs rurally around here. I just have had a time finding really good data on Memphis. Mostly just word of mouth. I am definitely considering psych or dual psych/FNP.

Travel nursing is also something I've considered doing to make extra money and see new parts of the country. I appreciate all of the replies.

@FullGlass thanks so much for all the researched links! very helpful.

Kabdel · Feb 23, 2020

My Bro works at a hospital here in Memphis as a (DNP)and my cousin has been a FNP for 12 years and works at Cambell Clinic. I know he got his job at a hospital because the advancement in the degree helped . I am still a prenursing student but I hope to be a NP one day . Memphis has St Jude and Lebonhuer which are the top children’s hospitals compared to other states so there are opportunities. I also know that there is always shortages here for private home care nursing because of the demand.